Canine IL-4 nucleic acid molecules and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins; to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to inhibitory compounds that regulate such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to identify and obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to regulate an immune response in an animal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to prior pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/087,306, filed May 29, 1998, entitled “CANINE INTERLEUKIN-4 AND FLT-3 LIGAND PROTEINS, NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES, AND USES THEREOF”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins and/or inhibitors of such proteins or nucleic acid molecules. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such nucleic acid molecules, proteins, antibodies and/or inhibitors, as well as their use to regulate an immune response in an animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Regulating immune responses in animals is important in disease management. Immune responses can be regulated by modifying the activity of immunoregulatory molecules and immune cells.

[0004] Several immunoregulatory molecules have been found in humans and other mammal species. Interleukin-4, produced by activated type 2 helper cells (T^(H)2 cells), has a number of functions. These functions include promotion of naive T cells and B cells to differentiate and proliferate. IL-4 promotes T_(H)2 differentiation and inhibits T_(H)1 development. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3, (Flt-3 ligand) stimulates the expansion and mobilization of hematopoetic precursor cell stimulating activity. CD40 is a type I transmembrane protein expressed on antigen presenting cells, such as B lymphocytes, and other types of cells such as endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts. CD40 ligand (also known as CD154) is a type II transmembrane protein that is preferentially expressed on activated T lymphocytes. The CD40-CD154 interaction regulates diverse pathways of the immune system, including B cell proliferation, immunoglobulin production and class switching by B cells, activation and clonal expansion of T cells, activity of antigen presenting cells, growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, and regulation of inflammatory responses at mucosal and cutaneous sites. Interleukin-5 is produced by activated type 2 helper cells (T_(H)2), mast cells, and eosinophils. Its main functions include promotion of growth and differentiation of eosinophils and generation of cytotoxic T cells from thymocytes. Interleukin-13 is produced by T_(H)1 and T_(H)2 cells, and promotes growth and differentiation of B cells, up-regulation of MHC class II and CD23 expression on monocytes/macrophages and B cells; and inhibition of production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, among others. Interferon alpha is an antiviral protein that has three major functions: it inhibits viral replication by activating cellular genes that destroy mRNA and inhibit protein translation, it induces MHC class I expression in non virally-infected cells, increasing resistance to NK cells, and can activate NK cells. GM-CSF, (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) stimulates the production of granulocytes and macrophages.

[0005] Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding feline IL-4 (Lerner et al., Genbank Accession No. U39634); porcine IL-4 (Zhou et al., Genbank Accession No. L12991); bovine IL-4 (Heussler, V. T., et al., Gene. vol. 114, pp. 273-278, 1992); ovine IL-4 (Seow, H.-F., et al., Gene, vol. 124, pp. 291-293, 1993); human IL-4 (Yokota, T., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., vol. 83(16), pp. 5894-5898, 1986); and murine IL-4 (Sideras, P., et al., Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., vol. 213, pp. 227-236, 1987). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding murine Flt-3 ligand (McClanahan et al., Genbank Accession No. U44024); and human Flt-3 ligand (Lyman et al., Blood, vol. 83, pp. 2795-2801, 1994). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding human CD40 (Stamenkovic et al., EMBO J., vol. 8:1403-1410, 1989, GenBank Accession No. (X60592), bovine CD40 (Hirano et al., Immunology, vol. 90, pp. 294-300, 1997, GenBank Accession No. U57745), and murine CD40 (Grimaldi et al., J. Immunol., vol. 143, pp.3921-3926. 1992; Torres and Clark, J. Immunol., vol. 148, pp. 620-626, 1992, GenBank Accession No. M83312). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding human CD154 (Graf et al., Eur. J. Immunol., vol. 22, pp. 3191-3194, 1992; Hollenbaugh, et al., EMBO J., vol. 11:4313-4321, 1992; Gauchat et al., FEBS lett., vol., 315, pp. 259-266, 1993; GenBank Accession Nos L07414, X68550, Z15017, X67878, respectively); bovine CD154 (Mertens et al., Immunogenetics, vol. 42, pp. 430-431, GenBank Accession No. Z48468); and murine CD154 (Armitage et al., Nature, vol. 357, pp. 80-82; 1992, GenBank Accession No. X65453). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding feline interleukin-5 (Padrid et al., Am. J. Vet. Res., vol. 59, pp. 1263-1269, 1998, GenBank Accession No. AF025436) and human interleukin-5 (Azuma et al., Nucleic Acids Res., vol. 14, pp. 9149-9158, 1986, GenBank Accession No. X04688). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding human interleukin-13 (McKenzie et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 90, pp. 3735-3739, 1993; Minty et al., Nature, vol. 362, pp. 248-250, 1993, GenBank Accession Nos L06801 and X69079, respectively); murine interleukin-13 (Brown et al., J. Immunol, vol. 142, pp. 679-687, 1989, GenBank Accession No M23504); and rat interleukin-13 (Lakkis et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., Vol. 197, pp. 612-618, 1993, GenBank Accession No. L26913). Prior investigators have disclosed sequences encoding feline interferon (Nakamura, N., Sudo, T., Matsuda, S., Yanai, A., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. (1992)Vol: 56 pp 211-214, GenBank accession # E02521). Prior investigators have also disclosed sequences encoding feline GM-CSF (direct submission to GenBank, Accession No. AF053007)

[0006] There remains a need for compounds and methods to regulate an immune response by manipulation of the function of canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules, antibodies raised against such proteins and/or inhibitors of such proteins or nucleic acid molecules. Identification of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention is unexpected because initial attempts to obtain nucleic acid molecules using PCR were unsuccessful. After numerous attempts, the inventors discovered specific primers that were useful for isolating such nucleic acid molecules.

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least about 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5 1, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 5 1, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and/or SEQ ID NO: 71, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and/or SEQ ED NO: 7 1; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, SEQ ID NO: 118; and/or (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, SEQ ID NO: 126.

[0009] Another embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 92 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, and/or SEQ ID NO: 7 1; (g) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 91 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 90 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 65 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and/or SEQ ID NO: 118; and/or (k) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or SEQ ID NO: 126.

[0010] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 30 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60 percent identical to an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70, and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 35 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78, and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 50 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86; (i) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 15 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105; (j) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an interferon alpha protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117; (k) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GMCSF protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 125, and/or (l) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a complement of any of said nucleic acid molecules as set forth in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and/or (k), wherein said IL-4 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20 and/or is a protein with interleukin-4 activity, said Flt-3 ligand protein elicits an immune response against a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or is a protein with Flt-3 ligand activity, said CD40 protein elicits an immune response against a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, and/or SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or is a protein with CD40 activity, said CD154 protein elicits an immune response against a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, and/or SEQ ID NO: 78 and/or is a protein with CD154 activity, said IL-5 protein elicits an immune response against a IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or is a protein with IL-5 activity, said IL-13 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105 and/or is a protein with IL-13 activity, said interferon alpha protein elicits an immune response against an interferon alpha protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117 and/or is a protein with interferon alpha activity, and/or said GMCSF protein elicits an immune response against a GMCSF protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and/or SEQ ID NO: 125 and/or is a protein with GM-CSF activity.

[0011] The present invention also includes methods to produce any of the proteins of the present invention using nucleic acid molecules of the present invention and recombinantly using such nucleic acid molecules.

[0012] The present invention also includes an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and/or SEQ ID NO: 19; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-4 protein and/or has IL-4 activity; (b) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and/or SEQ ID NO: 36; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a canine Flt-3 ligand protein and/or has Flt-3 activity; (c) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and/or SEQ ID NO: 48; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a feline Flt-3 ligand protein and/or has Flt-3 activity; (d)(i) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 90 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 90 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and/or SEQ ID NO: 57; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 30 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a canine CD40 protein and/or has CD40 activity; (e) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence comprising Seq id no: 60; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 61, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a feline CD40 protein and/or has CD40 activity; (f)(i) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 105 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 105 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and/or SEQ ID NO: 69; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 35 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a canine CD154 protein and/or has CD154 activity; (g)(i) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 105 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 150 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and/or SEQ ID NO: 77; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 50 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a feline CD154 protein and/or has CD154 activity; (h)(i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and/or SEQ ID NO: 85; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a canine IL-5 protein and/or has IL-5 activity; (i)(i) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and/or SEQ ID NO: 104; and/or (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 15 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a canine IL-13 protein and/or has IL-13 activity; (j) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, and/or SEQ ID NO: 116, and/or (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a feline interferon alpha protein and/or has interferon alpha activity; (k) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, and/or SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and/or SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said isolated protein is capable of eliciting an immune response against a feline GM-CSF and/or has GM-CSF activity.

[0013] The present invention also includes an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60 percent identical to an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86; (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105; (j) a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117; and/or (k) a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120, and/or SEQ ID NO: 125.

[0014] The present invention also includes isolated antibodies that selectively bind to a protein of the present invention.

[0015] One aspect of the present invention is a therapeutic composition that, when administered to an animal, regulates an immune response in said animal, said therapeutic composition comprising a therapeutic compound selected from the group consisting of: an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention; a mimetope of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; and a multimeric form of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention; an antibody that selectively binds to any of said immunoregulatory proteins; and/or an inhibitor of a immunoregulatory protein activity identified by its ability to inhibit the activity of any of said immunoregulatory proteins. Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method to regulate an immune response in an animal comprising administering to the animal a therapeutic composition of the present invention.

[0016] The present invention also includes a method to produce an immunoregulatory protein, said method comprising culturing a cell capable of expressing said protein, said protein being encoded by a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention.

[0017] One embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of regulating an immune response in an animal, said method comprising: (a) contacting an isolated canine IL-4 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has T cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (b) contacting an isolated canine Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has dendritic precursor cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (c) contacting an isolated feline Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has dendritic precursor cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (d) contacting an isolated canine CD40 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has CD40 ligand binding activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (e) contacting an isolated feline CD40 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has CD40 ligand binding activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (f) contacting an isolated canine CD154 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has B cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (g) contacting an isolated feline CD154 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has B cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (h) contacting an isolated canine IL-5 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (i) contacting an isolated canine IL-13 protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (j) contacting an isolated feline IFNα protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has inhibition of proliferation of GM-CSF stimulated TF-1 cell activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; or (k) contacting an isolated feline GMCSF protein of the present invention with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention provides for isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins, isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules, antibodies directed against canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins, and compounds derived therefrom that regulate the immune response of an animal (e.g. inhibitors, antibodies and peptides).

[0019] Canine IL-4 protein can refer to a canine IL-4 protein, including homologs thereof. Canine Flt-3 ligand protein can refer to a canine Flt-3 ligand, including homologs thereof, and feline Flt-3 ligand can refer to feline Flt-3 ligand, including homologs thereof. Canine CD40 can refer to a canine CD40, including homologs thereof; feline CD40 can refer to a feline CD40, including homologs thereof Canine CD154 can refer to a canine CD154, including homologs thereof; feline CD154 can refer to a feline CD154, including homologs thereof. Canine IL-5 can refer to canine IL-5, including homologs thereof; canine IL-13 can refer to canine IL-13, including homologs thereof. Feline IFNα can refer to a feline IFNα, including homologs thereof, and feline GM-CSF can refer to a feline GM-CSF, including homologs thereof. As used herein, the phrase “regulate an immune response” refers to modulating the activity of cells or molecules involved in an immune response. The term “regulate” can refer to increasing or decreasing an immune response. Regulation of an immune response can be determined using methods known in the art as well as methods disclosed herein. The term, “immunoregulatory protein” refers to a protein that can modulate the activity of cells or of molecules involved in an immune response. An immunoregulatory protein of the present invention refers to a canine IL-4, a canine and/or feline CD40, a canine and/or feline Flt3 ligand, a canine and/or feline CD154, a canine IL-5, a canine IL-13, a feline IFNα, and/or a feline GM-CSF protein as described herein. As used herein, the terms isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins and/or isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules refer to canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins and/or canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules derived from mammals and, as such, can be obtained from their natural source, or can be produced using, for example, recombinant nucleic acid technology or chemical synthesis. Also included in the present invention is the use of these proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and/or compounds derived therefrom as therapeutic compositions to regulate the immune response of an animal as well as in other applications, such as those disclosed below.

[0020] One embodiment of the present invention is an isolated protein that includes a canine IL-4 protein, a canine and/or feline Flt-3 ligand protein, a canine and/or feline CD40 protein, a canine and/or feline CD154 protein, a canine interleukin-5 protein, a canine interleukin-13 protein, a feline interferon alpha protein, and/or a feline GM-CSF protein. It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity; for example, a protein refers to one or more proteins or at least one protein. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably. According to the present invention, an isolated, or biologically pure, protein, is a protein that has been removed from its natural milieu. As such, “isolated” and/or “biologically pure” do not necessarily reflect the extent to which the protein has been purified. An isolated protein of the present invention can be obtained from its natural source, can be produced using recombinant DNA technology, or can be produced by chemical synthesis. Nucleic acid molecules of the present invention of known length isolated from Canis familiaris are denoted as follows: IL-4 is denoted as nCaIL-4_(x), for example, nCaIL-4₅₄₉, wherein “#” refers to the number of nucleotides in that molecule; and in a similar fashion, Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules are referred to as nCaFlt3L_(x); CD40, nCaCD40_(x); CD154, nCaCD154_(x); IL-5, nCaIL-5_(x); and IL-13, nCaIL-13_(x). In a similar fashion, Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules of the present invention of known length isolated from Felis catus are denoted as nFeFlt3L_(x), CD40, nFeCD40_(x); CD154, nFeCD154_(x); IFNα, nFeIFNα_(x); and GM-CSF (also denoted GMCSF), nFeGM-CSF_(x). Similarly, proteins of the present invention of known length isolated from Felis catus are denoted as PFeFlt31_(x), PFeCD40_(x), PFeCD154_(x), PFeIFNα_(x), and/or PFeGM-CSF_(x); and proteins of the present invention of known length isolated from Canis familiaris are denoted PCaIL-4_(x), PCaFlt3L_(x), PCaCD40_(x), PCaCD154_(x), PCaIL-5_(x), and/or PCaIL-13_(x).

[0021] As used herein, an isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF ligand protein of the present invention (i.e., an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively) can be a full-length protein or any homolog of such a protein. An isolated IL-4 protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response against, (or to) an IL-4 protein, bind to an IL-4 receptor, stimulate B cell differentiation or activation or stimulate production of immunoglobulin by a B cell. An isolated Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response against a Flt-3 ligand protein, bind to Flt-3 receptor or stimulate Flt-3 receptor-bearing hematopoietic stem cells, early hematopoietic progenitor cells or immature lymphocytes. An isolated CD40 protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response against a CD40 protein, bind to CD154 or stimulate CD154-bearing B cells, T cells, and/or epithelial cells. An isolated CD154 protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response to a CD154 protein, bind to CD40 or stimulate CD40-bearing B cells, T cells, and/or epithelial cells. An isolated IL-5 protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response to an IL-5 protein, bind to an IL-5 receptor, and/or stimulate eosinophils and/or cause thymocytes to produce cytotoxic T cells. An isolated IL-13 protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response to an IL-13 protein, bind to an IL-13 receptor, and/or stimulate B cells, up-regulate expression of MHC class II and/or CD23 on monocytes, macrophages and/or B cells; and/or inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. An isolated interferon alpha protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response to an interferon alpha protein, bind to an interferon-alpha receptor, and/or activate NK cells and/or inhibit viral replication. An isolated GM-CSF protein of the present invention, including a homolog, can be identified in a straight-forward manner by the protein's ability to elicit an immune response to a GM-CSF protein, bind to a GM-CSF receptor, and/or activate granulocytes and/or macrophages. Examples of protein homologs of the present invention include immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention in which amino acids have been deleted (e.g., a truncated version of the protein, such as a peptide), inserted, inverted, substituted and/or derivatized (e.g., by glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, myristoylation, prenylation, palmitoylation, amidation and/or addition of glycerophosphatidyl inositol) such that the protein homolog includes at least one epitope capable of eliciting an immune response against the parent protein, of binding to an antibody directed against the parent protein and/or of binding to the parent's receptor, where the term parent refers to the longer and/or full-length protein that the homolog is derived from. That is, when the homolog is administered to an animal as an immunogen, using techniques known to those skilled in the art, the animal will produce an immune response against at least one epitope of an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention, depending upon which protein is administered to an animal. The ability of a protein to effect an immune response can be measured using techniques known to those skilled in the art. As used herein, the term “epitope” refers to the smallest portion of a protein capable of selectively binding to the antigen binding site of an antibody. It is well accepted by those skilled in the art that the minimal size of a protein epitope capable of selectively binding to the antigen binding site of an antibody is about five or six to seven amino acids.

[0022] Homologs of immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention can be the result of natural allelic variation, including natural mutation. Protein homologs of the present invention can also be produced using techniques known in the art including, but not limited to, direct modifications to the protein and/or modifications to the gene encoding the protein using, for example, classic or recombinant DNA techniques to effect random or targeted mutagenesis.

[0023] Immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention include variants of a full-length protein of a protein of the present invention. Such variants include proteins that are less than full-length. As used herein, variants of the present invention refer to nucleic acid molecules that are naturally-occurring as defined below, and may result from alternative RNA splicing, alternative termination of an amino acid sequence or DNA recombination. Examples of variants include allelic variants as defined below. It is to be noted that a variant is an example of a homolog of the present invention.

[0024] Immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention are encoded by nucleic acid molecules of the present invention. As used herein, an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural canine IL-4 gene. As used herein, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural canine Flt-3 ligand gene. As used herein, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural CD40 gene. As used herein, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural CD154 gene. As used herein, an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural IL-5 gene. As used herein, an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural IL-13 gene. As used herein, an IFNα nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural IFNα gene. As used herein, a GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule includes nucleic acid sequences related to a natural GM-CSF gene. As used herein, a canine IL-4, a canine and/or feline CD40, a canine and/or feline Flt3 ligand, a canine and/or feline CD154, a canine IL-5, a canine IL-13, a feline IFNα, and/or a feline GM-CSF gene refers to the natural genomic elements that encode an canine IL-4, a canine and/or feline CD40, a canine and/or feline Flt3 ligand, a canine and/or feline CD154, a canine IL-5, a canine IL-13, a feline IFNα, and/or a feline GM-CSF protein, respectively, and includes all regions such as regulatory regions that control production of the protein encoded by the gene (such as, but not limited to, transcription, translation or post-translation control regions) as well as the coding region itself, and any introns or non-translated coding regions. As used herein, a gene that “includes” or “comprises” a sequence may include that sequence in one contiguous array, or may include the sequence as fragmented exons. As used herein, the term “coding region” refers to a continuous linear array of nucleotides that translates into a protein. A full-length coding region is that region that is translated into a full-length, i.e., a complete, protein as would be initially translated in its natural milieu, prior to any post-translational modifications.

[0025] In one embodiment, an IL-4 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, as well as the complement of SEQ ID NO: 1. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA (complementary DNA) denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-4₅₄₉, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-4₅₄₉ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine IL-4. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 1 (represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 3) refers to the nucleic acid sequence of the strand fully complementary to the strand having SEQ ID NO: 1, which can easily be determined by those skilled in the art. Likewise, a nucleic acid sequence complement of any nucleic acid sequence of the present invention refers to the nucleic acid sequence of the nucleic acid strand that is fully complementary to (i.e., can form a double helix with) the strand for which the sequence is cited. It should be noted that since nucleic acid sequencing technology is not entirely error-free, SEQ ID NO: 1 (as well as other nucleic acid and protein sequences presented herein) represents an apparent nucleic acid sequence of the nucleic acid molecule encoding an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention.

[0026] In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 8. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine Flt-3 ligand.

[0027] In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 43, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 45. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 43 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nFeFlt3L₉₄₂ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of feline Flt-3 ligand.

[0028] In another embodiment, a CD40 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 52, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 54. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 52 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaCD40₁₄₂₅ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine CD40.

[0029] In another embodiment, a CD40 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 60, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 62. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 60 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nFeCD40₃₃₆, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nFeCD40₃₃₆ comprises an apparent portion of the coding region of feline CD40.

[0030] In another embodiment, a CD154 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 64, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 66. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 64 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaCD154₁₈₇₈, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine CD154.

[0031] In another embodiment, a CD154 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 72, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 74. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 72 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nFeCD154₈₈₅, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nFeCD154₈₈₅ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of feline CD154.

[0032] In another embodiment, an IL-5 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 80, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 82. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 80 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-5₆₁₀, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-5₆₁₀ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine IL-5.

[0033] In another embodiment, an IL-13 gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 91, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 93. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 91 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of canine IL-13.

[0034] In another embodiment, an IFNα gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 107, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 109. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 107 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nFeIFNα_(567a), the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nFeIFNα_(567a) comprises an apparently full-length coding region of feline IFNα.

[0035] In another embodiment, a GM-CSF gene of the present invention includes the nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 119, as well as the complement represented by SEQ ID NO: 121. Nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 119 represents the deduced sequence of the coding strand of a cDNA denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nFeGM-CSF₄₄₄, the production of which is disclosed in the Examples. Nucleic acid molecule nFeGM-CSF₄₄₄ comprises an apparently full-length coding region of feline GM-CSF.

[0036] Additional immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention having specific sequence identifiers are described in Table 1. TABLE 1 Sequence identification numbers (SEQ ID NOs) and their corresponding nucleic acid molecules or proteins. SEQ ID NO: DESCRIPTION 1 nCaIL-4₅₄₉ coding strand 2 PCaIL-4₁₃₂ 3 nCaIL-4₅₄₉ complementary strand 4 nCaIL-4₃₉₆ coding strand 5 nCaIL-4₃₉₆ complementary strand 6 nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ coding strand 7 PCaFlt3L₂₉₄ 8 nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ complementary strand 9 nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ coding strand 10 nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ complementary strand 19 nCaIL-4₃₂₄ coding strand 20 PCaIL-4₁₀₈ 21 nCaIL-4₃₂₄ complementary strand 22 nCaFlt3L₈₀₄ coding strand 23 PCaFlt3L₂₆₈ 24 nCaFlt3L₈₀₄ complementary strand 25 nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ coding strand 26 PCaFlt3L₂₇₆ 27 nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ complementary strand 28 nCaFlt3L₈₂₈ coding strand 29 nCaFlt3L₈₂₈ complementary strand 30 nCaFlt3L₇₅₀ coding strand 31 PCaFlt3L₂₅₀ 32 nCaFlt3L₇₅₀ complementary strand 33 nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉ coding strand 34 PCaFlt3L₃₁ 35 nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉ complementary strand 36 nCaFlt3L₉₃ coding strand 37 nCaFlt3L₉₃ complementary strand 41 nFeFlt3L₃₉₅ coding strand 42 nFeFlt3L₇₉₃ coding strand 43 nFeFlt3L₉₄₂ coding strand 44 PFeFlt3L₂₉₁ 45 nFeFlt3L₉₄₂ complementary strand 46 nFeFlt3L₈₇₃ coding strand 47 nFeFlt3L₈₇₃ complementary strand 48 nFeFlt3L₇₉₅ coding strand 49 PFeFlt3L₂₆₅ 50 nFeFlt3L₇₉₅ complementary strand 51 nCaCD40₃₂₁ coding strand 52 nCaCD40₁₄₂₅ coding strand 53 PCaCD40₂₇₄ 54 nCaCD40₁₄₂₅ complementary strand 55 nCaCD40₈₂₂ coding strand 56 nCaCD40₈₂₂ complementary strand 57 nCaCD40₇₆₅ coding strand 58 PCaCD40₂₅₅ 59 nCaCD40₇₆₅ complementary strand 60 nFeCD40₃₃₆ coding strand 61 PFeCD40₁₁₂ 62 nFeCD40₃₃₆ complementary strand 63 nCaCD154₃₉₀ coding strand 64 nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ coding strand 65 PCaCD154₂₆₀ 66 nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ complementary strand 67 nCaCD154₇₈₀ coding strand 68 nCaCD154₇₈₀ complementary strand 69 nCaCD154₆₃₃ coding strand 70 PCaCD154₂₁₁ 71 nCaCD154₆₃₃ complementary strand 72 nFeCD154₈₈₅ coding strand 73 PFeCD154₂₆₀ 74 nFeCD154₈₈₅ complementary strand 75 nFeCD154₇₈₀ coding strand 76 nFeCD154₇₈₀ complementary strand 77 nFeCD154₆₃₃ coding strand 78 PFeCD154₂₁₁ 79 nFeCD154₆₃₃ complementary strand 80 nCaIL-5₆₁₀ coding strand 81 PCaIL-5₁₃₄ 82 nCaIL-5₆₁₀ complementary strand 83 nCaIL-5₄₀₂ coding strand 84 nIL-5₄₀₂ complementary strand 85 nCaIL-5₃₄₅ coding strand 86 PCaIL-5₁₁₅ 87 nCaIL-5₃₄₅ complementary strand 88 nCaIL-13₁₆₆ coding strand 89 nCaIL-13₂₇₂ coding strand 90 nCaIL-13₂₇₈ coding strand 91 nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ coding strand 92 PCaIL-13₁₃₁ 93 nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ complementary strand 94 nCaIL-13₃₉₃ coding strand 95 nCaIL-13₃₉₃ complementary strand 96 nCaIL-13₃₃₃ coding strand 97 PaIL-13₁₁₁ 98 nCaIL-13₃₃₃ complementary strand 99 nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉ coding strand 100 PCaIL-13₁₃₀ 101 nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉ complementary strand 102 nCaIL-13₃₉₀ coding strand 103 nCaIL-13₃₉₀ complementary strand 104 nCaIL-13₃₃₀ coding strand 105 PCaIL-13₁₁₀ 106 nCaIL-13₃₃₀ complementary strand 107 nFeIFNα_(567a) coding strand 108 PFeIFNα_(189a) 109 nFeIFNα_(567a) complementary strand 110 nFeIFNα_(567b) coding strand 111 PFeIFNα_(189b) 112 nFeIFNα_(567b) complementary strand 113 nFeIFNα_(498a) coding strand 114 PFeIFNα_(166a) 115 nFeIFNα_(498a) complementary strand 116 nFeFeIFNα_(498b) coding strand 117 PFeIFNα_(166b) 118 nFeIFNα_(498b) complementary strand 119 nFeGMCSF₄₄₄ coding strand 120 PFeGMCSF₁₄₄ 121 nFeGMCSF₄₄₄ complementary strand 122 nFeGMCSF₄₃₂ coding strand 123 nFeGMCSF₄₃₂ complementary strand 124 nFeGMCSF₃₈₁ coding strand 125 PFeGMCSF₁₂₇ 126 nFeGMCSF₃₈₁ complementary strand

[0037] In another embodiment, an IL-4 gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, and/or any other IL-4 nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 50 and/or any other Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, a CD40 gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62 and/or any other CD40 nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, a CD154 gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 79 and/or any other CD154 nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, an IL-5 gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, SEQ ID NO: 87 and/or any other IL-5 nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, an IL-13 gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, SEQ ID NO: 106 and/or any other IL-13 nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, an IFNα gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and/or SEQ ID NO: 118 and/or any other IFNα nucleic acid sequence cited herein. In another embodiment, a GM-CSF gene or nucleic acid molecule can be an allelic variant that includes a similar but not identical sequence to SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or SEQ ID NO: 126 and/or any other GM-CSF nucleic acid cited herein. An allelic variant of a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF gene, including the particular SEQ ID NO's cited herein, is a gene that occurs at essentially the same locus (or loci) in the genome as the gene including the particular SEQ ID NO's cited herein, but which, due to natural variations caused by, for example, mutation or recombination, has a similar but not identical sequence. Also included in the term allelic variant are allelic variants of cDNAs derived from such genes. Because natural selection typically selects against alterations that affect function, allelic variants usually encode proteins having similar activity to that of the protein encoded by the gene to which they are being compared. Allelic variants of genes or nucleic acid molecules can also comprise alterations in the 5′ or 3′ untranslated regions of the gene (e.g., in regulatory control regions), or can involve alternative splicing of a nascent transcript, thereby bringing alternative exons into juxtaposition. Allelic variants are well known to those skilled in the art and would be expected to be found within a given animal, since the respective genomes are diploid, and sexual reproduction will result in the reassortment of alleles.

[0038] The minimal size of an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein homolog of the present invention is a size sufficient to be encoded by a nucleic acid molecule capable of forming a stable hybrid (i.e., hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions) with the complementary sequence of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the corresponding natural protein. Stringent hybridization conditions are determined based on defined physical properties of the gene to which the nucleic acid molecule is being hybridized, and can be defined mathematically. Stringent hybridization conditions are those experimental parameters that allow an individual skilled in the art to identify significant similarities between heterologous nucleic acid molecules. These conditions are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, Sambrook, et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Labs Press, and Meinkoth, et al., 1984, Anal. Biochem. 138, 267-284, each of which is incorporated herein by this reference. As explained in detail in the cited references, the determination of hybridization conditions involves the manipulation of a set of variables including the ionic strength (M, in moles/liter), the hybridization temperature (° C.), the concentration of nucleic acid helix destabilizing agents, such as formamide, the average length of the shortest hybrid duplex (n), and the percent G+C composition of the fragment to which an unknown nucleic acid molecule is being hybridized. For nucleic acid molecules of at least about 150 nucleotides, these variables are inserted into a standard mathematical formula to calculate the melting temperature, or T_(m), of a given nucleic acid molecule. As defined in the formula below, T_(m) is the temperature at which two complementary nucleic acid molecule strands will disassociate, assuming 100% complementarity between the two strands:

T _(m)=81.5° C.+16.6 log M+0.41(% G+C)−500/n−0.61(% formamide).

[0039] For nucleic acid molecules smaller than about 50 nucleotides, hybrid stability is defined by the dissociation temperature (T_(d)), which is defined as the temperature at which 50% of the duplexes dissociate. For these smaller molecules, the stability at a standard ionic strength is defined by the following equation:

T _(d)=4(G+C)+2(A+T).

[0040] A temperature of 5° C. below T_(d) is used to detect hybridization between perfectly matched molecules.

[0041] Also well known to those skilled in the art is how base pair mismatch, i.e. differences between two nucleic acid molecules being compared, including non-complementarity of bases at a given location, and gaps due to insertion or deletion of one or more bases at a given location on either of the nucleic acid molecules being compared, will affect T_(m) or T_(d) for nucleic acid molecules of different sizes. For example, T_(m) decreases about 1° C. for each 1% of mismatched base pairs for hybrids greater than about 150 bp, and T_(d) decreases about 5° C. for each mismatched base pair for hybrids below about 50 bp. Conditions for hybrids between about 50 and about 150 base pairs can be determined empirically and without undue experimentation using standard laboratory procedures well known to those skilled in the art. These simple procedures allow one skilled in the art to set the hybridization conditions, by altering, for example, the salt concentration, the formamide concentration or the temperature, so that only nucleic acid hybrids with greater than a specified % base pair mismatch will hybridize. Stringent hybridization conditions are commonly understood by those skilled in the art to be those experimental conditions that will allow about 30% base pair mismatch, i.e., about 70% identity. Because one skilled in the art can easily determine whether a given nucleic acid molecule to be tested is less than or greater than about 50 nucleotides, and can therefore choose the appropriate formula for determining hybridization conditions, he or she can determine whether the nucleic acid molecule will hybridize with a given gene or specified nucleic acid molecule under stringent hybridization conditions and similarly whether the nucleic acid molecule will hybridize under conditions designed to allow a desired amount of base pair mismatch.

[0042] Hybridization reactions are often carried out by attaching the nucleic acid molecule to be hybridized to a solid support such as a membrane, and then hybridizing with a labeled nucleic acid molecule, typically referred to as a probe, suspended in a hybridization solution. Examples of common hybridization reaction techniques include, but are not limited to, the well-known Southern and northern blotting procedures. Typically, the actual hybridization reaction is done under non-stringent conditions, i.e., at a lower temperature and/or a higher salt concentration, and then high stringency is achieved by washing the membrane in a solution with a higher temperature and/or lower salt concentration in order to achieve the desired stringency.

[0043] Preferred portions, or fragments, of a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF, protein of the present invention include at least 15 amino acids, at least 20 amino acids, at least 25 amino acids, at least 30 amino acids, at least 35 amino acids, at least 40 amino acids, at least 45 amino acids, at least 50 amino acids, at least 60 amino acids, at least 75 amino acids or at least 100 amino acids. An IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 protein of the present invention can include at least a portion of an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 protein that is capable of binding to an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor, respectively. IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 receptors are known to those of skill in the art, and are described in Janeway et al., in Immunobiology, the Immune System in Health and Disease, Garland Publishing, Inc., NY, 1996 (which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety). The IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor-binding portion of an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 protein, respectively, can be determined by incubating the protein with an isolated IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor, as appropriate, or a cell having an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor on its surface, as appropriate. IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 protein binding to purified IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor, respectively, can be determined using methods known in the art including Biacore® screening, confocal immunofluorescent microscopy, immunoprecipitation, gel chromatography, determination of inhibition of binding of antibodies that bind specifically to the IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 binding domain of an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor, ELISA using an IL-4, IL-5, and/or IL-13 receptor, respectively, labeled with a detectable tag such as an enzyme or chemiluminescent tag or yeast-2 hybrid technology. A Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention can include at least a portion of a Flt-3 ligand protein that is capable of binding to Flt-3 receptor or stimulating Flt-3 receptor-bearing hematopoietic stem cells, early hematopoietic progenitor cells or immature lymphocytes. Flt-3 receptors are known to those of skill in the art, and are described in Drexler, Leukemia, vol. 10, pp. 588-599, 1996 (which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference). The Flt-3 receptor-binding portion of a Flt-3 ligand protein can be determined by incubating the protein with isolated Flt-3 receptor or a cell having a Flt-3 receptor on its surface. Flt-3 ligand protein binding to purified Flt-3 receptor can be determined using methods known in the art including Biacore® screening, confocal immunofluorescent microscopy, immunoprecipitation, gel chromatography, determination of inhibition of binding of antibodies that bind specifically to the Flt-3 ligand binding domain of a Flt-3 receptor, ELISA using a Flt-3 receptor labeled with a detectable tag such as an enzyme or chemiluminescent tag or yeast-2 hybrid technology. A CD40 and/or CD154 protein of the present invention can include at least a portion of a CD40 and/or CD154 protein that is capable of binding to a CD40 and/or CD154 receptor, respectively, or stimulating CD40 and/or CD154 receptor-bearing hematopoietic stem cells, early hematopoietic progenitor cells or immature lymphocytes. The CD40 and/or CD154 receptor-binding portion of a CD40 and/or CD154 protein can be determined by incubating the protein with isolated CD40 and/or CD154 receptor, as appropriate, or a cell having a CD40 and/or CD154 receptor on its surface, as appropriate. CD40 and/or CD154 protein binding to CD154 and/or CD40, respectively, can be determined using methods known in the art including Biacore® screening, confocal immunofluorescent microscopy, immunoprecipitation, gel chromatography, determination of inhibition of binding of antibodies that bind specifically to the CD40 and/or CD154 binding domain of CD40 and/or CD154, as appropriate, ELISA using a CD40 and/or CD154 labeled with a detectable tag such as an enzyme or chemiluminescent tag or yeast-2 hybrid technology.

[0044] The present invention also includes mimetopes of canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins of the present invention. As used herein, a mimetope of an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention refers to any compound that is able to mimic the activity of such a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively, often because the mimetope has a structure that mimics the particular protein. Mimetopes can be, but are not limited to: peptides that have been modified to decrease their susceptibility to degradation such as all-D retro peptides; anti-idiotypic and/or catalytic antibodies, or fragments thereof; non-proteinaceous immunogenic portions of an isolated protein (e.g., carbohydrate structures); and/or synthetic or natural organic molecules, including nucleic acids. Such mimetopes can be designed using computer-generated structures of proteins of the present invention. Mimetopes can also be obtained by generating random samples of molecules, such as oligonucleotides, peptides or other organic molecules, and screening such samples by affinity chromatography techniques using the corresponding binding partner.

[0045] One embodiment of an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention is a fusion protein that includes either a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein-containing domain, each attached to one or more fusion segments. Suitable fusion segments for use with the present invention include, but are not limited to, segments that can: link two or more immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention, to form multimeric forms of an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention; enhance a protein's stability; act as an immunopotentiator to enhance an immune response against an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein; and/or assist in purification of an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein (e.g., by affinity chromatography). A suitable fusion segment can be a domain of any size that has the desired function (e.g., imparts increased stability, imparts increased immunogenicity to a protein, and/or simplifies purification of a protein). Fusion segments can be joined to amino and/or carboxyl termini of the IL-4-containing domain, or the Flt-3 ligand-containing domain, or the CD40-containing domain, or the CD154-containing domain, or the IL-5-containing domain, or the IL-13-containing domain, or the IFNα-containing domain, or GM-CSF-containing domain, of a protein and can be susceptible to cleavage in order to enable straight-forward recovery of either canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively. Fusion proteins are preferably produced by culturing a recombinant cell transformed with a fusion nucleic acid molecule that encodes a protein including the fusion segment attached to either the carboxyl and/or amino terminal end of an canine interleukin-4-, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand-, canine or feline CD40-, canine or feline CD154-, canine interleukin-5-, canine interleukin-13-, feline interferon alpha-, or feline GM-CSF-containing domain. Preferred fusion segments include a metal binding domain (e.g., a poly-histidine segment); an immunoglobulin binding domain (e.g., Protein A; Protein G; T cell; B cell; Fc receptor or complement protein antibody-binding domains); a sugar binding domain (e.g., a maltose binding domain); and/or a “tag” domain (e.g., at least a portion of-galactosidase, a strep tag peptide, a T7 tag peptide, a Flag™ peptide, or other domains that can be purified using compounds that bind to the domain, such as monoclonal antibodies). More preferred fusion segments include metal binding domains, such as a poly-histidine segment; a maltose binding domain; a strep tag peptide, such as that available from Biometra in Tampa, Fla.; and an S10 peptide.

[0046] A suitable fusion segment that links one IL-4 protein to another IL-4 protein, or one Flt-3 ligand protein to another Flt-3 ligand protein, or one CD40 protein to another CD40 protein, or one CD154 protein to another CD154 protein, or one IL-5 protein to another IL-5 protein to another IL-5 protein, or one IL-13 protein to another IL-13 protein, or one IFNα protein to another IFNα protein, or one GM-CSF protein to another GM-CSF protein, includes any amino acid sequence that enables such proteins to be linked while maintaining the biological function of either the canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF, proteins, respectively. Selection of a suitable linker is dependent upon how many proteins are to be linked to form one multimeric molecule and from where on either the canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF molecule the linker extends. Preferably, a linker fusion segment of the present invention comprises a peptide of from about 6 amino acid residues to about 40 residues, more preferably from about 6 residues to about 30 residues in length.

[0047] In another embodiment, an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention also includes at least one additional protein segment that is capable of targeting either canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively, to a desired cell or receptive molecule. Such a multivalent targeting protein can be produced by culturing a cell transformed with a nucleic acid molecule comprising two or more nucleic acid domains joined together in such a manner that the resulting nucleic acid molecule is expressed as a multivalent targeting protein containing a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein or portion thereof and/or at least one targeting compound capable of delivering the canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively, to a desired site in an animal.

[0048] Examples of multivalent targeting proteins include, but are not limited to, a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention attached to one or more compounds that can bind to a receptive molecule on the surface of a cell located in an area of an animal where regulation of an immune response is desired. One of skill in the art can select appropriate targeting fusion segments depending upon the cell or receptive molecule being targeted.

[0049] Another example of a multivalent protein of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention attached to one or more proteins that are potentially antigenic in mammals. Thus, immunogenicity of the potentially antigenic protein could be enhanced by administering to a mammal together with an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention.

[0050] A naturally-occurring variant of a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention is preferably isolated from (including isolation of the natural protein or production of the protein by recombinant or synthetic techniques) from mammals, including but not limited to dogs (i.e., canids), cats (i.e., felids), horses (i.e., equids), humans, cattle, chinchillas, ferrets, goats, mice, minks, rabbits, raccoons, rats, sheep, squirrels, swine, chickens, ostriches, quail and/or turkeys as well as other furry animals, pets, zoo animals, work animals and/or food animals. Particularly preferred animals from which to isolate canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF proteins are dogs, cats, horses and/or humans.

[0051] A preferred isolated protein of the present invention is a protein encoded by at least one of the following nucleic acid molecules: nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, nFeCD40₃₃₆, nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, nFeCD154₆₃₃, nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, nCaIL-5₃₄₅, nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, nCaIL-13₃₃₀, nFeIFNα_(567a), nFeIFNα_(567b), nFeIFNα_(498a), nFeIFNα4_(98b), nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, nFeGMCSF₄₃₂, nFeGMCSF₃₈₁ and/or allelic variants of any of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred is an isolated protein that is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule the having nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 85, SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 104, SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 116, SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 124; and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule.

[0052] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 1, the coding strand of nCaIL-4₅₄₉, yields a protein of about 132 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-4₁₃₂, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 2, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 43 through nucleotide 45 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 439 through nucleotide 441 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0053] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 6, the coding strand of nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, yields a protein of about 294 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 7, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 35 through nucleotide 37 of SEQ ID NO: 6 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 917 through nucleotide 919 of SEQ ID NO: 6.

[0054] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 43, the coding strand for nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, yields a protein of about 291 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 44, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 31 through nucleotide 33 of SEQ ID NO: 43 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 904 through nucleotide 906 of SEQ ID NO: 43.

[0055] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 52, the coding strand for nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, yields a protein of about 274 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaCD40₂₇₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 53, assuming an open reading frame having an initation codon spanning from nucleotide 196 through nucleotide 198 of SEQ ID NO: 52 and a stop codon spanning from about nucleotide 1018 through nucleotide 1020 of SEQ ID NO: 52.

[0056] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 60, the coding strand for nFeCD40₃₃₆, yields a protein of about 112 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeCD40₁₁₂, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 61, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 3 of SEQ ID NO: 60.

[0057] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 64, the coding strand for nCaCD154₁₈₇₈, yields a protein of about 260 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaCD154₂₆₀, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 65, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 284 through nucleotide 286 of SEQ ID NO: 64 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 1064 through nucleotide 1066 of SEQ ID NO: 64.

[0058] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 72, the coding strand for nFeCD154₈₈₅, yields a protein of about 260 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeCD154₂₆₀, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 73, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 31 of SEQ ID NO: 72, and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 809 through nucleotide 811 of SEQ ID NO: 72.

[0059] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 80, the coding strand for nCaIL-5₆₁₀, yields a protein of about 134 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-5₁₃₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 81, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 31 of SEQ ID NO: 80, and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 431 through nucleotide 433 of SEQ ID NO: 80.

[0060] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 91, the coding strand for nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, yields a protein of about 131 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-13₁₃₁, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 92, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 52 through nucleotide 54 of SEQ ID NO: 91 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 445 through nucleotide 447 of SEQ ID NO: 91.

[0061] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 107, the coding strand for nFeIFNα_(567a), yields a protein of about 189 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeIFNα_(189a), the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 108, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 3 and a last codon prior to a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 565 through nucleotide 567 of SEQ ID NO: 107.

[0062] Translation of SEQ ID NO: 119, the coding strand for nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, yields a protein of about 144 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeGMCSF₁₄₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 120, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 10 through nucleotide 12 of SEQ ID NO: 119 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 442 through nucleotide 444 of SEQ ID NO: 119.

[0063] Preferred IL-4 proteins of the present invention include proteins that are at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-4₁₃₂, PCaIL-4₁₀₈, or fragments thereof. Preferred Flt-3 ligand proteins of the present invention include proteins that are at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, PCaFlt3L₂₆₈, PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, PCaFlt3L₃₁, and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred Flt-3 ligand proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, PFeFlt3L₂₆₅ and/or fragments thereof. Preferred CD40 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaCD40₂₇₄, PCaCD40₂₅₅ and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred CD40 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 60%, at least about 65%, preferably at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeCD40₁₁₂ and/or fragments thereof. Preferred CD154 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 80% identical, preferably at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaCD154₂₆₀, PCaCD154₂₁₁ and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred CD154 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeCD154₂₆₀, PFeCD154₂₁₁, and/or fragments thereof. Preferred IL-5 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-5₁₃₄, PCaIL-5₁₁₅ and/or fragments thereof. Preferred IL-13 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 70% identical, preferably at least about 75% identical, more preferably at least about 80% identical more preferably at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-13₁₃₁, PCaIL-13₁₁₁, PCaIL-13₁₃₀, PCaIL-13₁₁₀, and/or fragments thereof Preferred IFNα proteins of the present invention include PFeIFNα_(189a), PFeIFNα_(189b), PFeIFNα_(166a), and/or PFeIFNα_(166b). Preferred GM-CSF proteins of the present invention include PFeGMCSF₁₄₄, and/or PFeGMCSF₁₂₇.

[0064] More preferred are IL-4 proteins comprising PCaIL-4₁₃₂, PCaIL-4₁₀₈, and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding proteins PCaIL-4₁₃₂ and/or PCaIL-4₁₀₈. More preferred are Flt-3 ligand proteins comprising PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, PCaFlt3L₂₆₈, PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, PCaFlt3L₃₁, PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, PFeFlt3L₂₆₅ and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding proteins PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, PCaFlt3L₂₆₈, PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, PCaFlt3L₃₁, PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, and/or PFeFlt3L₂₆₅. More preferred are CD40 proteins comprising PCaCD40₂₇₄, PCaCD40₂₅₅, and/or PFeCD40₁₁₂ and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding proteins PCaCD40₂₇₄, PCaCD40₂₅₅, and/or PFeCD40₁₁₂. More preferred are CD154 proteins comprising PCaCD154₂₆₀, PCaCD154₂₁₁, PFeCD154₂₆₀, PFeCD154₂₁₁ and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding one of proteins PCaCD154₂₆₀, PCaCD154₂₁₁, PFeCD154₂₆₀, PFeCD154₂₁₁. More preferred are IL-5 proteins comprising PCaIL-5₁₃₄, PCaIL-5₁₁₅ and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding one of the proteins PCaIL-5₁₃₄ and/or PCaIL-5₁₁₅. More preferred are IL-13 proteins comprising PCaIL-13₁₃₁, PCaIL-13₁₁₁, PCaIL-13₁₃₀, PCaIL-13₁₁₀, and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of anucleic acid molecule encoding one of the proteins PCaIL-13₁₃₁, PCaIL-13 ₁₁₁, PCaIL-13₁₃₀, PCaIL-13₁₁₀.

[0065] Also preferred are IL-4 proteins of the present invention having amino acid sequences that are at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 20 and/or fragments thereof. Also preferred are Flt-3 ligand proteins of the present invention having amino acid sequences that are at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34 and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred Flt-3 ligand proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and/or even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or fragments thereof. Preferred CD40 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and/or even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58 and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred CD40 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 60%, at least about 65%, preferably at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or fragments thereof. Preferred CD154 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 80% identical, preferably at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70 and/or fragments thereof. Additional preferred CD154 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 78 and/or fragments thereof. Preferred IL-5 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 81, SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or fragments thereof. Preferred IL-13 proteins of the present invention includes proteins that are at least about 70% identical, preferably at least about 75% identical, more preferably at least about 80% identical, more preferably at least about 85% identical, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, SEQ ID NO: 105, and/or fragments thereof. Preferred IFNα proteins of the present invention include SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, SEQ ID NO: 117. Preferred GM-CSF proteins of the present invention include SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 125.

[0066] More preferred are IL-4 proteins comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 20; and/or IL-4 proteins encoded by allelic variants of nucleic acid molecules encoding IL-4 proteins having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 20. More preferred are Flt-3 ligand proteins comprising SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding proteins SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or SEQ ID NO: 49. More preferred are CD40 proteins comprising SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding proteins SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, and/or SEQ ID NO: 61. More preferred are CD154 proteins comprising SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 78 and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding one of proteins SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, and/or SEQ ID NO: 78. More preferred are IL-5 proteins comprising SEQ ID NO: 81, SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of a nucleic acid molecule encoding one of the proteins SEQ ID NO: 81, and/or SEQ ID NO: 86. More preferred are IL-13 proteins comprising SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, SEQ ID NO: 105, and/or proteins encoded by allelic variants of anucleic acid molecule encoding one of the proteins SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105.

[0067] Percent identities between amino acid or nucleic acid sequences can be determined using standard methods known to those of skill in the art. It is known in the art that methods to determine the percentage identity and the number of gaps are substantially similar when different methods for determining sequence similarity are used and when the degree of similarity is greater than 30% amino acid identity, as described by Johnson et al., J. Mol. Biol., vol.233, pages 716-738, 1993, and Feng et al., J. Mol. Evol., vol. 21, pages 112-125, 1985, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Preferred methods to determine percentage identities between amino acid sequences and between nucleic acid sequences include comparisons using various computer programs such as GCG™ program (available from Genetics Computer Group, Madison, Wis.), DNAsis™ program (available from Hitachi Software, San Bruno, Calif.) or the MacVector™ program (available from the Eastman Kodak Company, New Haven, Conn.). Preferred settings for sequence comparisons using the DNAsis™ computer program or the GAP GCG™ program are disclosed herein in the Examples section.

[0068] Additional preferred IL-4 proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules comprising at least a portion of nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, and/or nCaIL-4₃₂₄, as well as IL-4 proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules. Additional preferred Flt-3 ligand proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules comprising at least a portion of nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, ncaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, and/or nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, as well as Flt-3 ligand proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules. Additional preferred CD40 proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules encoding at least a portion of nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, and/or nFeCD40₃₃₆ as well as CD40 proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules. Additional preferred CD154 proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules encoding at least a portion of nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, and/or nFeCD154₆₃₃ as well as CD154 proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules. Additional preferred IL-5 proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules encoding at least a portion of nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, and/or nCaIL-5₃₄₅ as well as IL-5 proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules. Additional preferred IL-13 proteins of the present invention include proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules encoding at least a portion of nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, and/or nCaIL-5₃₄₅ as well as IL-13 proteins encoded by allelic variants of such nucleic acid molecules.

[0069] Also preferred are IL-4 proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and/or SEQ ID NO: 19, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred are Flt-3 ligand proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and/or SEQ ID NO: 48, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred are CD40 proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 60, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred are CD154 proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and/or SEQ ID NO: 77, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred are IL-5 proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and/or SEQ ID NO: 85, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Also preferred are IL-13 proteins encoded by nucleic acid molecules having nucleic acid sequences comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and/or SEQ ID NO: 104, as well as allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules.

[0070] Another embodiment of the present invention is a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule that includes one or more regulatory regions, full-length or partial coding regions, or combinations thereof. The minimal size of a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a size sufficient to allow the formation of a stable hybrid (i.e., hybridization under stringent hybridization conditions) with the complementary sequence of another nucleic acid molecule. As such, the minimal size of a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is from about 12 to about 18 nucleotides in length.

[0071] In accordance with the present invention, an isolated nucleic acid molecule is a nucleic acid molecule that has been removed from its natural milieu (i.e., that has been subjected to human manipulation) and can include DNA, RNA, or derivatives of either DNA or RNA. As such, “isolated” does not reflect the extent to which the nucleic acid molecule has been purified. An isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can be isolated from its natural source or produced using recombinant DNA technology (e.g., polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification or cloning) or chemical synthesis. Isolated canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF, nucleic acid molecules can include, for example, natural allelic variants and/or nucleic acid molecules modified by nucleotide insertions, deletions, substitutions, and/or inversions in a manner such that the modifications do not substantially interfere with the nucleic acid molecule's ability to encode an canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention.

[0072] A canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, and/or feline GM-CSF ligand nucleic acid molecule homolog can be produced using a number of methods known to those skilled in the art, see, for example, Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Labs Press; Sambrook et al., ibid., is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. For example, nucleic acid molecules can be modified using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, classic mutagenesis and recombinant DNA techniques such as site-directed mutagenesis, chemical treatment, restriction enzyme cleavage, ligation of nucleic acid fragments, PCR amplification, synthesis of oligonucleotide mixtures and ligation of mixture groups to “build” a mixture of nucleic acid molecules, and combinations thereof. Nucleic acid molecule homologs can be selected by hybridization with either a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule or by screening the function of a protein encoded by the nucleic acid molecule (e.g., ability to elicit an immune response against at least one epitope of a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, respectively).

[0073] An isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can include a nucleic acid sequence that encodes at least one canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein of the present invention, examples of such proteins being disclosed herein. Although the phrase “nucleic acid molecule” primarily refers to the physical nucleic acid molecule and the phrase “nucleic acid sequence” primarily refers to the sequence of nucleotides on the nucleic acid molecule, the two phrases can be used interchangeably, especially with respect to a nucleic acid molecule, or a nucleic acid sequence, being capable of encoding a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF ligand protein.

[0074] A preferred nucleic acid molecule of the present invention, when administered to an animal, is capable of regulating an immune response in an animal. As will be disclosed in more detail below, such a nucleic acid molecule can be, or encode, an antisense RNA, a molecule capable of triple helix formation, a ribozyme, or other nucleic acid-based drug compound. In additional embodiments, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can encode an immunoregulatory protein (e.g., a cell-bound or soluble protein of the present invention), the nucleic acid molecule being delivered to the animal, for example, by direct injection (i.e, as a genetic vaccine) or in a vehicle such as a recombinant virus vaccine or a recombinant cell vaccine.

[0075] One embodiment of the present invention is an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part (i.e., a fragment of the IL-4 nucleic acid molecule) of nucleic acid molecules nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, and/or nCalL-4₃₂₄, or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. One embodiment of the present invention is a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part (i.e., a fragment of the Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule) of nucleic acid molecules nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, and/or nFeFlt3L₇₉₅ and/or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. One embodiment of the present invention is a CD40 nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part (i.e. a fragment of the CD40 nucleic acid molecule) of nucleic acid molecules nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, and/or nFeCD40₃₃₆ and/or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. One embodiment of the present invention is a CD154 nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part of nucleic acid molecules nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD¹⁵⁴ ₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, and/or nFeCD154₆₃₃, and/or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. One embodiment of the present invention is an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part of nucleic acid molecules nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, and/or nCaIL-5₃₄₅, and/or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. One embodiment of the present invention is an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule comprising all or part of nucleic acid molecules nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, and/or nCaIL-13₃₃₀, and/or allelic variants of these nucleic acid molecules. Another preferred nucleic acid molecule of the present invention includes at least a portion of (i.e., a fragment of the nucleic acid molecule) nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, SEQ ID NO: 87, SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, SEQ ID NO: 106, SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, SEQ ID NO: 118, SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or SEQ ID NO: 126, as well as allelic variants of nucleic acid molecules having these nucleic acid sequences. Such nucleic acid molecules can include nucleotides in addition to those included in the SEQ ID NOs, such as, but not limited to, a full-length gene, a full-length coding region, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein, and/or a nucleic acid molecule encoding a multivalent therapeutic compound.

[0076] One embodiment of an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is a nucleic acid molecule that can be any of the following: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21 and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and/or SEQ ID NO: 71, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and/or SEQ ID NO: 71; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106, and/or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and/or SEQ ID NO: 118; and/or (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or SEQ ID NO: 126. The phrase, a homolog having an at least “x” contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to an “x” contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:“y”, refers to an “x”-nucleotide in length nucleic acid molecule that is identical in sequence to an “x”-nucleotide portion of SEQ ID NO:“y”, as well as to nucleic acid molecules that are longer in length than “x”. The additional length may be in the form of nucleotides that extend from either the 5′ or the 3′ end(s) of the contiguous identical “x”-nucleotide portion. The 5′ and/or 3′ extensions can include one or more extensions that have no identity to an immunoregulatory molecule of the present invention, as well as extensions that show similarity or identity to cited nucleic acids sequences or portions thereof.

[0077] In another embodiment, an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can be any of the following: (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34, and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and/or SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 30 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60 percent identical to an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70, and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 35 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and/or SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78, and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 50 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and/or SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86; (i) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105 and/or (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 15 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105; (j) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an interferon alpha protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117; (k) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GMCSF protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 120, SEQ ID NO: 125, and/or (l) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a complement of any of the before-mentioned nucleic acid sequences; wherein said IL-4 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or SEQ ID NO: 20 and/or is a protein with interleukin-4 activity, said Flt-3 ligand protein elicits an immune response against a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or SEQ ID NO: 49 and/or is a protein with Flt-3 ligand activity, said CD40 protein elicits an immune response against a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, and/or SEQ ID NO: 61 and/or is a protein with CD40 activity, said CD154 protein elicits an immune response against a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, and/or SEQ ID NO: 78 and/or is a protein with CD154 activity, said IL-5 protein elicits an immune response against a IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and/or SEQ ID NO: 86 and/or is a protein with IL-5 activity, said IL-13 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and/or SEQ ID NO: 105 and/or is a protein with IL-13 activity, said interferon alpha protein elicits an immune response against an interferon alpha protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and/or SEQ ID NO: 117 and/or is a protein with interferon alpha activity, and said GMCSF protein elicits an immune response against a GMCSF protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and/or SEQ ID NO: 125 and/or is a protein with GM-CSF activity.

[0078] In one embodiment, an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, preferably at least about 92%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-4₁₃₂ and/or PCaIL-4_(108.) In one embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, PCaFlt3L₂₆₈, PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, and/or PCaFlt3L₃₁. In one embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, and/or PFeFlt3L₂₆₅. In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about PCaCD40₂₇₄, and/or PCaCD40₂₅₅. In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 60%, preferably at least about 65%, preferably at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeCD40₁₁₂. In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 80%, at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaCD154₂₆₀, and/or PCaCD154₂₁₁. In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PFeCD154₂₆₀, PFeCD154₂₁₁. In one embodiment, an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-5₁₃₄, and/or PCaIL-5₁₁₅. In one embodiment, an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein that is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to PCaIL-13₁₃₁, PCaIL-13₁₁₁, PCaIL-13₁₃₀, PCaIL-13₁₁₀. Even more preferred is a nucleic acid molecule encoding PCaIL-4₁₃₂, PCaIL-4₁₀₈, PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, PCaFlt3L₂₆₈, PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, PCaFlt3L_(31,) PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, PFeFlt3L₂₆₅,PCaCD40₂₇₄, PCaCD40₂₅₅, PFeCD40₁₁₂, PCaCD154₂₆₀, PCaCD154₂₁₁, PFeCD154₂₆₀, PFeCD154₂₁₁, PCaIL-5₁₃₄, PCaIL-5₁₁₅, PCaIL-13₁₃₁, PCaIL-13₁₁₁, PCaIL-13₁₃₀, PCaIL-13₁₁₀ and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule.

[0079] In another embodiment, an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 20. The present invention also includes an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or SEQ ID NO: 20, as well as allelic variants of an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0080] In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34. The present invention also includes a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and/or SEQ ID NO: 34, as well as allelic variants of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0081] In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or SEQ ID NO: 49. The present invention also includes a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 44, and/or SEQ ID NO: 49, as well as allelic variants of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0082] In another embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58. The present invention also includes a CD40 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 53 and/or SEQ ID NO: 58, as well as allelic variants of a CD40 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0083] In another embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60%, preferably at least about 65%, preferably at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, even more preferably at least about 80%, even more preferably at least about 85%, even more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 60. The present invention also includes a CD40 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 60, as well as allelic variants of a CD40 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0084] In another embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about at least about 80%, at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and/or SEQ ID NO: 69. The present invention also includes a CD154 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and/or SEQ ID NO: 69, as well as allelic variants of a CD154 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0085] In another embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and/or SEQ ID NO: 77. The present invention also includes a CD154 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and/or SEQ ID NO: 77, as well as allelic variants of a CD154 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0086] In another embodiment, an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about at least about 85%, at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and/or SEQ ID NO: 85. The present invention also includes an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and/or SEQ ID NO: 85, as well as allelic variants of an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0087] In another embodiment, an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90%, and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and/or SEQ ID NO: 104. The present invention also includes an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and/or SEQ ID NO: 104, as well as allelic variants of an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having these sequences, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0088] In one embodiment, an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 90%, and preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaIL-4₅₄₉. Even more preferred is a nucleic acid molecule comprising nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃. Even more preferred is a nucleic acid molecule comprising nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L804, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, and/or nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nFeFlt3L₉₄₂. Even more preferred is a nucleic acid molecule comprising nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, and/or nFeFlt3L795 and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, and/or nCaCD40₇₆₅, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nFeCD40₃₃₆, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 85%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, and/or nCaCD154₆₃₃, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is at least about 91%, and preferably about 95% identical to nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, and/or nFeCD154₆₃₃, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In one embodiment, an IL-5 molecule of the present invention is at least about 90% and preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, and/or nCaIL-5₃₄₅, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule. In another embodiment, an IL-13 molecule of the present invention is at least about 65%, at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, and/or nCaIL-13₃₃₀, and/or an allelic variant of such a nucleic acid molecule.

[0089] In another embodiment, an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 90%, and preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21. The present invention also includes an IL-4 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and/or SEQ ID NO: 21, as well as allelic variants of such IL-4 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0090] In another embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75%, preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37. The present invention also includes a Flt-3 ligand-nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and/or SEQ ID NO: 37, as well as allelic variants of such Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0091] In one embodiment, a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50. The present invention also includes a Flt-3 ligand-nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and/or SEQ ID NO: 50, as well as allelic variants of such Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0092] In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59. The present invention also includes a CD40 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and/or SEQ ID NO: 59, as well as allelic variants of such CD40 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0093] In one embodiment, a CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62. The present invention also includes a CD40 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 60 and/or SEQ ID NO: 62, as well as allelic variants of such CD40 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0094] In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 85%, preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, and/or SEQ ID NO: 71. The present invention also includes a CD154 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, and/or SEQ ID NO: 71, as well as allelic variants of such CD154 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0095] In one embodiment, a CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 91%, and preferably about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79. The present invention also includes a CD154 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and/or SEQ ID NO: 79, as well as allelic variants of such CD154 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0096] In one embodiment, an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 90% and preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87. The present invention also includes an IL-5 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and/or SEQ ID NO: 87, as well as allelic variants of such IL-5 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0097] In one embodiment, an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 65%, at least about 70%, preferably at least about 75%, more preferably at least about 80%, more preferably at least about 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and even more preferably at least about 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106. The present invention also includes an IL-13 nucleic acid molecule comprising at least a portion of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and/or SEQ ID NO: 106, as well as allelic variants of such IL-13 nucleic acid molecules, including nucleic acid molecules that have been modified to accommodate codon usage properties of the cells in which such nucleic acid molecules are to be expressed.

[0098] In one embodiment, an IFNα nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is identical to SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and/or SEQ ID NO: 118.

[0099] In another embodiment, a GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is identical to SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and/or SEQ ID NO: 126.

[0100] Knowing the nucleic acid sequences of certain immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecules of the present invention allows one skilled in the art to, for example, (a) make copies of those nucleic acid molecules, (b) obtain nucleic acid molecules including at least a portion of such nucleic acid molecules (e.g., nucleic acid molecules including full-length genes, full-length coding regions, regulatory control sequences, truncated coding regions), and/or (c) obtain other immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecules. Such nucleic acid molecules can be obtained in a variety of ways including screening appropriate expression libraries with antibodies of the present invention; traditional cloning techniques using oligonucleotide probes of the present invention to screen appropriate libraries; and PCR amplification of appropriate libraries or DNA using oligonucleotide primers of the present invention. Preferred libraries to screen or from which to amplify nucleic acid molecules include mammalian cDNA libraries as well as genomic DNA libraries. Similarly, preferred DNA sources from which to amplify nucleic acid molecules include mammalian cDNA and genomic DNA. Techniques to clone and amplify genes are disclosed, for example, in Sambrook et al., ibid.

[0101] The present invention also includes nucleic acid molecules that are oligonucleotides capable of hybridizing, under stringent hybridization conditions, with complementary regions of other, preferably longer, nucleic acid molecules of the present invention such as those comprising canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecules. Oligonucleotides of the present invention can be RNA, DNA, or derivatives of either. The minimum size of such oligonucleotides is the size required for formation of a stable hybrid between an oligonucleotide and a complementary sequence on a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. A preferred oligonucleotide of the present invention has a maximum size of about 100 nucleotides. The present invention includes oligonucleotides that can be used as, for example, probes to identify nucleic acid molecules, primers to produce nucleic acid molecules, or therapeutic reagents to inhibit canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein production or activity (e.g., as antisense-, triplex formation-, ribozyme- and/or RNA drug-based reagents). The present invention also includes the use of such oligonucleotides to protect animals from disease using one or more of such technologies. Appropriate oligonucleotide-containing therapeutic compositions can be administered to an animal using techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0102] One embodiment of the present invention includes a recombinant vector, which includes at least one isolated nucleic acid molecule of the present invention, inserted into any vector capable of delivering the nucleic acid molecule into a host cell. Such a vector contains heterologous nucleic acid sequences, that is nucleic acid sequences that are not naturally found adjacent to nucleic acid molecules of the present invention and that preferably are derived from a species other than the species from which the nucleic acid molecule(s) are derived. The vector can be either RNA or DNA, either prokaryotic or eukaryotic, and typically is a virus or a plasmid. Recombinant vectors can be used in the cloning, sequencing, and/or otherwise manipulating immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

[0103] One type of recombinant vector, referred to herein as a recombinant molecule, comprises a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention operatively linked to an expression vector. The phrase operatively linked refers to insertion of a nucleic acid molecule into an expression vector in a manner such that the molecule is able to be expressed when transformed into a host cell. As used herein, an expression vector is a DNA or RNA vector that is capable of transforming a host cell and of effecting expression of a specified nucleic acid molecule. Preferably, the expression vector is also capable of replicating within the host cell. Expression vectors can be either prokaryotic or eukaryotic, and are typically viruses or plasmids. Expression vectors of the present invention include any vectors that function (i.e., direct gene expression) in recombinant cells of the present invention, including in bacterial, fungal, parasite, insect, other animal, and plant cells. Preferred expression vectors of the present invention can direct gene expression in bacterial, yeast, insect and mammalian cells, and more preferably in the cell types disclosed herein, more preferably in vivo.

[0104] In particular, expression vectors of the present invention contain regulatory sequences such as transcription control sequences, translation control sequences, origins of replication, and other regulatory sequences that are compatible with the recombinant cell and that control the expression of nucleic acid molecules of the present invention. In particular, recombinant molecules of the present invention include transcription control sequences. Transcription control sequences are sequences which control the initiation, elongation, and termination of transcription. Particularly important transcription control sequences are those which control transcription initiation, such as promoter, enhancer, operator and repressor sequences. Suitable transcription control sequences include any transcription control sequence that can function in at least one of the recombinant cells of the present invention. A variety of such transcription control sequences are known to those skilled in the art. Preferred transcription control sequences include those which function in bacterial, yeast, helminth and/or other endoparasite, insect and mammalian cells, such as, but not limited to, tac, lac, trp, trc, oxy-pro, omp/lpp, rrnB, bacteriophage lambda (such as lambda P_(L) and lambda P_(R) and fusions that include such promoters), bacteriophage T7, T7lac, bacteriophage T3, bacteriophage SP6, bacteriophage SP01, metallothionein, alpha-mating factor, Pichia alcohol oxidase, alphavirus subgenomic promoter, antibiotic resistance gene, baculovirus, Heliothis zea insect virus, vaccinia virus, herpesvirus, raccoon poxvirus, other poxvirus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus (such as immediate early promoter), simian virus 40, retrovirus, actin, retroviral long terminal repeat, Rous sarcoma virus, heat shock, phosphate and nitrate transcription control sequences as well as other sequences capable of controlling gene expression in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Additional suitable transcription control sequences include tissue-specific promoters and enhancers as well as lymphokine-inducible promoters (e.g., promoters inducible by interferons or interleukins). Transcription control sequences of the present invention can also include naturally occurring transcription control sequences naturally associated with mammals, such as dog, cat, horse or human transcription control sequences.

[0105] Suitable and preferred nucleic acid molecules to include in recombinant vectors of the present invention are as disclosed herein. Preferred nucleic acid molecules to include in recombinant vectors, and particularly in recombinant molecules, include nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, nFeCD40₃₃₆, nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, nFeCD154₆₃₃, nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, nCaIL-5₃₄₅, nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, nCaIL-13₃₃₀, nFeIFNα_(567a), nFeIFNα_(567b), nFeIFNα_(498a), nFeIFNα4_(98b), nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, nFeGMCSF₄₃₂, and/or nFeGMCSF₃₈₁.

[0106] Recombinant molecules of the present invention may also (a) contain secretory signals (i.e., signal segment nucleic acid sequences) to enable an expressed parasitic helminth protein of the present invention to be secreted from the cell that produces the protein and/or (b) contain fusion sequences which lead to the expression of nucleic acid molecules of the present invention as fusion proteins. Examples of suitable signal segments include any signal segment capable of directing the secretion of a protein of the present invention. Preferred signal segments include, but are not limited to, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), interferon, interleukin, growth hormone, histocompatibility and viral envelope glycoprotein signal segments. Suitable fusion segments encoded by fusion segment nucleic acids are disclosed herein. In addition, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can be joined to a fusion segment that directs the encoded protein to the proteosome, such as a ubiquitin fusion segment. Eukaryotic recombinant molecules may also include intervening and/or untranslated sequences surrounding and/or within the nucleic acid sequences of nucleic acid molecules of the present invention.

[0107] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a recombinant cell comprising a host cell transformed with one or more recombinant molecules of the present invention. Transformation of a nucleic acid molecule into a cell can be accomplished by any method by which a nucleic acid molecule can be inserted into the cell. Transformation techniques include, but are not limited to, transfection, electroporation, microinjection, lipofection, adsorption, and protoplast fusion. A recombinant cell may remain unicellular or may grow into a tissue, organ or a multicellular organism. Transformed nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can remain extrachromosomal or can integrate into one or more sites within a chromosome of the transformed (i.e., recombinant) cell in such a manner that their ability to be expressed is retained. Preferred nucleic acid molecules with which to transform a cell include immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecules of the present invention disclosed herein. Particularly preferred nucleic acid molecules with which to transform a cell include nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, nFeCD40₃₃₆, nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, nFeCD154₆₃₃, nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, nCaIL-5₃₄₅, nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, nCaIL-13₃₃₀, nFeIFNα_(567a), nFeIFNα_(567b), nFeIFNα_(498a), nFeIFNα4_(98b), nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, nFeGMCSF₄₃₂, and/or nFeGMCSF₃₈₁.

[0108] Suitable host cells to transform include any cell that can be transformed with a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Host cells can be either untransformed cells or cells that are already transformed with at least one nucleic acid molecule (e.g., nucleic acid molecules encoding one or more proteins of the present invention and/or other proteins useful in the production of multivalent vaccines). Host cells of the present invention either can be endogenously (i.e., naturally) capable of producing immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention or can be capable of producing such proteins after being transformed with at least one nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Host cells of the present invention can be any cell capable of producing at least one protein of the present invention, and include bacterial, fungal (including yeast), parasite (including helminth, protozoa and ectoparasite), other insect, other animal and plant cells. Preferred host cells include bacterial, mycobacterial, yeast, helminth, insect and mammalian cells. More preferred host cells include Salmonella, Escherichia, Bacillus, Listeria, Saccharomyces, Spodoptera, Mycobacteria, Trichoplusia, BHK (baby hamster kidney) cells, MDCK cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line), CRFK cells (Crandell feline kidney cell line), CV-1 cells (African monkey kidney cell line used, for example, to culture raccoon poxvirus), COS (e.g., COS-7) cells, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, Ltk cells and Vero cells. Particularly preferred host cells are Escherichia coli, including E. coli K-12 derivatives; Salmonella typhi; Salmonella typhimurium, including attenuated strains such as UK-1 ₀3987 and SR-11 ₀4072; Spodoptera frugiperda; Trichoplusia ni; BHK cells; MDCK cells; CRFK cells; CV-1 cells; COS cells; Vero cells; and non-tumorigenic mouse myoblast G8 cells (e.g., ATCC CRL 1246). Additional appropriate mammalian cell hosts include other kidney cell lines, other fibroblast cell lines (e.g., human, murine or chicken embryo fibroblast cell lines), myeloma cell lines, Chinese hamster ovary cells, mouse NIH/3T3 cells, LMTK³¹ cells and/or HeLa cells. In one embodiment, the proteins may be expressed as heterologous proteins in myeloma cell lines employing immunoglobulin promoters.

[0109] A recombinant cell is preferably produced by transforming a host cell with one or more recombinant molecules, each comprising one or more nucleic acid molecules of the present invention operatively linked to an expression vector containing one or more transcription control sequences, examples of which are disclosed herein.

[0110] A recombinant cell of the present invention includes any cell transformed with at least one of any nucleic acid molecule of the present invention. Suitable and preferred nucleic acid molecules as well as suitable and preferred recombinant molecules with which to transfer cells are disclosed herein.

[0111] Recombinant cells of the present invention can also be co-transformed with one or more recombinant molecules including any of canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule encoding one or more proteins of the present invention and/or one or more other nucleic acid molecules encoding other therapeutic compounds, as disclosed herein (e.g., to produce multivalent vaccines).

[0112] Recombinant DNA technologies can be used to improve expression of transformed nucleic acid molecules by manipulating, for example, the number of copies of the nucleic acid molecules within a host cell, the efficiency with which those nucleic acid molecules are transcribed, the efficiency with which the resultant transcripts are translated, and the efficiency of post-translational modifications. Recombinant techniques useful for increasing the expression of nucleic acid molecules of the present invention include, but are not limited to, operatively linking nucleic acid molecules to high-copy number plasmids, integration of the nucleic acid molecules into one or more host cell chromosomes, addition of vector stability sequences to plasmids, substitutions or modifications of transcription control signals (e.g., promoters, operators, enhancers), substitutions or modifications of translational control signals (e.g., ribosome binding sites, Shine-Dalgarno sequences), modification of nucleic acid molecules of the present invention to correspond to the codon usage of the host cell, deletion of sequences that destabilize transcripts, and use of control signals that temporally separate recombinant cell growth from recombinant enzyme production during fermentation. The activity of an expressed recombinant protein of the present invention may be improved by fragmenting, modifying, or derivatizing nucleic acid molecules encoding such a protein.

[0113] Isolated immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention can be produced in a variety of ways, including production and/or recovery of natural proteins, production and/or recovery of recombinant proteins, and/or chemical synthesis of the proteins. In one embodiment, an isolated protein of the present invention is produced by culturing a cell capable of expressing the protein under conditions effective to produce the protein, and recovering the protein. A preferred cell to culture is a recombinant cell of the present invention. Effective culture conditions include, but are not limited to, effective media, bioreactor, temperature, pH and oxygen conditions that permit protein production. An effective medium refers to any medium in which a cell is cultured to produce an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention. Such medium typically comprises an aqueous medium having assimilable carbon, nitrogen and phosphate sources, and appropriate salts, minerals, metals and other nutrients, such as vitamins. Cells of the present invention can be cultured in conventional fermentation bioreactors, shake flasks, test tubes, microtiter dishes, and petri plates. Culturing can be carried out at a temperature, pH and oxygen content appropriate for a recombinant cell. Such culturing conditions are within the expertise of one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0114] Depending on the vector and host system used for production, resultant proteins of the present invention may either remain within the recombinant cell; be secreted into the fermentation medium; be secreted into a space between two cellular membranes, such as the periplasmic space in E. coli; or be retained on the outer surface of a cell or viral membrane.

[0115] The phrase “recovering the protein”, as well as similar phrases, refers to collecting the whole fermentation medium containing the protein and need not imply additional steps of separation or purification. Proteins of the present invention can be purified using a variety of standard protein purification techniques, such as, but not limited to, affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, filtration, electrophoresis, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, reverse phase chromatography, concanavalin A chromatography, chromatofocusing and/or differential solubilization. Proteins of the present invention are preferably retrieved in “substantially pure” form. As used herein, “substantially pure” refers to a purity that allows for the effective use of the protein as a therapeutic composition or diagnostic. A therapeutic composition for animals, for example, should exhibit no substantial toxicity and preferably should be capable of stimulating the production of antibodies in a treated animal.

[0116] The present invention also includes isolated (i.e., removed from their natural milieu) antibodies that selectively bind to an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention and/or a mimetope thereof (e.g., anti-IL-4 antibodies, anti-Flt-3 ligand antibodies, anti-CD40 antibodies, anti-CD154 antibodies, anti-IL-5 antibodies, anti-IL-13 antibodies, anti-IFNα antibodies, and/or anti-GM-CSF antibodies). As used herein, the term “selectively binds to” an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention, refers to the ability of antibodies of the present invention to preferentially bind to specified proteins and/or mimetopes thereof of the present invention. Binding can be measured using a variety of methods standard in the art including enzyme immunoassays (e.g., ELISA), immmunoblot assays, etc.; see, for example, Sambrook et al., ibid., and Harlow, et al., 1988, Antibodies, a Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Labs Press; Harlow et al., ibid., is incorporated by this reference herein in its entirety. An anti-IL-4 antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to an IL-4 protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-Flt-3 ligand antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to a Flt-3 ligand-protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-CD40 antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to a CD40 protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-CD154 antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to a CD154 protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-IL-5 antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to an IL-5 protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-IL-13 antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to an IL-13 protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-IFNα antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to an IFNα protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein. An anti-GM-CSF antibody of the present invention preferably selectively binds to a GM-CSF protein in such a way as to inhibit the function of that protein.

[0117] Isolated antibodies of the present invention can include antibodies in serum, or antibodies that have been purified to varying degrees. Antibodies of the present invention can be polyclonal or monoclonal, or can be functional equivalents such as antibody fragments and/or genetically-engineered antibodies, including single chain antibodies or chimeric antibodies that can bind to one or more epitopes.

[0118] A preferred method to produce antibodies of the present invention includes (a) administering to an animal an effective amount of a protein, peptide and/or mimetope thereof of the present invention to produce the antibodies and (b) recovering the antibodies. In another method, antibodies of the present invention are produced recombinantly using techniques as heretofore disclosed to produce any of the immunoregulatory proteins of the present invention. Antibodies raised against defined proteins or mimetopes can be advantageous because such antibodies are not substantially contaminated with antibodies against other substances that might otherwise cause interference in a diagnostic assay or side effects if used in a therapeutic composition.

[0119] Antibodies of the present invention have a variety of potential uses that are within the scope of the present invention. For example, such antibodies can be used (a) as reagents in assays to detect an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention, (b) as reagents in assays to modulate cellular activity through an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention (e.g., mimicking ligand binding to a canine interleukin-4, canine or feline Flt-3 ligand, canine or feline CD40, canine or feline CD154, canine interleukin-5, canine interleukin-13, feline interferon alpha, or feline GM-CSF protein, as appropriate), and/or (c) as tools to screen expression libraries and/or to recover desired proteins of the present invention from a mixture of proteins and other contaminants. Furthermore, antibodies of the present invention can be used to target compounds (e.g., nucleic acid molecules, drugs or proteins) to antigen presenting cells. Targeting can be accomplished by conjugating (i.e., stably joining) such antibodies to the compounds using techniques known to those skilled in the art. Suitable compounds are known to those skilled in the art.

[0120] One embodiment of the present invention is a therapeutic composition that, when administered to an animal in an effective manner, is capable of regulating an immune response in an animal. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can include at least one of the following therapeutic compounds: an isolated IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF protein of the present invention and/or a mimetope thereof; an isolated IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF nucleic acid molecule of the present invention; an isolated antibody that selectively binds to an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF protein of the present invention; an inhibitor of canine IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF function identified by its ability to bind to an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF protein, respectively, of the present invention; such an inhibitor can inhibit binding of the respective immunoregulatory protein with its respective receptor, or inhibit the activity the respective protein. Methods to perform such assays to measure binding and/or activity of an immunoregulatory protein of the present invention are known to those of skill in the art, and are described, for example, in Janeway et al., ibid. As used herein, a therapeutic compound refers to a compound that, when administered to an animal in an effective manner, is able to treat, ameliorate, and/or prevent a disease. Examples of proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitors of the present invention are disclosed herein.

[0121] The present invention also includes a therapeutic composition comprising at least one IL-4-, Flt-3 ligand-, CD40-, CD154-, IL-5-, IL-13-, IFNα-, and/or GM-CSF-based compound of the present invention in combination with at least one additional therapeutic compound. Examples of such compounds are disclosed herein.

[0122] Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered to any animal susceptible to such therapy, preferably to mammals, and more preferably to dogs, cats, humans, ferrets, horses, cattle, sheep and/or other pets, economic food animals and/or zoo animals. Preferred animals include dogs, cats, horses and/or humans.

[0123] A therapeutic composition of the present invention is administered to an animal in an effective manner such that the composition is capable of regulating an immune response in that animal. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered to animals prior to onset of a disease (i.e., as a preventative vaccine) and/or can be administered to animals after onset of a disease in order to treat the disease (i.e., as a therapeutic vaccine). Preferred diseases to prevent and/or treat include autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, infectious diseases, tumor development, inflammatory diseases and/or graft rejection. In one embodiment, a therapeutic composition of the present invention is administered with an antigen to enhance an immune response against that antigen.

[0124] Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be formulated in an excipient that the animal to be treated can tolerate. Examples of such excipients include water, saline, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, Hank's solution, and/or other aqueous physiologically balanced salt solutions. Nonaqueous vehicles, such as fixed oils, sesame oil, ethyl oleate, or triglycerides may also be used. Other useful formulations include suspensions containing viscosity enhancing agents, such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Excipients can also contain minor amounts of additives, such as substances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Examples of buffers include phosphate buffer, bicarbonate buffer and/or Tris buffer, while examples of preservatives include thimerosal, o-cresol, formalin and/or benzyl alcohol. Standard formulations can either be liquid injectables or solids which can be taken up in a suitable liquid as a suspension or solution for injection. Thus, in a non-liquid formulation, the excipient can comprise dextrose, human serum albumin, preservatives, etc., to which sterile water or saline can be added prior to administration.

[0125] In one embodiment of the present invention, a therapeutic composition can include an adjuvant. Adjuvants are agents that are capable of enhancing the immune response of an animal to a specific antigen. Suitable adjuvants include, but are not limited to, cytokines, chemokines, and/or compounds that induce the production of cytokines and/or chemokines (e.g., granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), colony stimulating factor (CSF), erythropoietin (EPO), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin 5 (IL-5), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 7 (IL-7), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 12 (IL-12), interferon gamma, interferon gamma inducing factor I (IGIF), transforming growth factor beta, RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted), macrophage inflammatory proteins (e.g., MIP-1 alpha and MIP-1 beta), and Leishmania elongation initiating factor (LEIF)); bacterial components (e.g., endotoxins, in particular superantigens, exotoxins and cell wall components); aluminum-based salts; calcium-based salts; silica; polynucleotides; toxoids; serum proteins, viral coat proteins; block copolymer adjuvants (e.g., Hunter's Titermax™ adjuvant (Vaxcel™, Inc. Norcross, Ga.), Ribi adjuvants (Ribi ImmunoChem Research, Inc., Hamilton, Mont.); and saponins and their derivatives (e.g., Quil A (Superfos Biosector A/S, Denmark). Protein adjuvants of the present invention can be delivered in the form of the protein themselves or of nucleic acid molecules encoding such proteins using the methods described herein.

[0126] In one embodiment of the present invention, a therapeutic composition can include a carrier. Carriers include compounds that increase the half-life of a therapeutic composition in the treated animal. Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, polymeric controlled release vehicles, biodegradable implants, liposomes, bacteria, viruses, other cells, oils, esters, and glycols.

[0127] One embodiment of the present invention is a controlled release formulation that is capable of slowly releasing a composition of the present invention into an animal. As used herein, a controlled release formulation comprises a composition of the present invention in a controlled release vehicle. Suitable controlled release vehicles include, but are not limited to, biocompatible polymers, other polymeric matrices, capsules, microcapsules, microparticles, bolus preparations, osmotic pumps, diffusion devices, liposomes, lipospheres, and transdermal delivery systems. Other controlled release formulations of the present invention include liquids that, upon administration to an animal, form a solid or a gel in situ. Preferred controlled release formulations are biodegradable (i.e., bioerodible).

[0128] A preferred controlled release formulation of the present invention is capable of releasing a composition of the present invention into the blood of the treated animal at a constant rate sufficient to attain therapeutic dose levels of the composition to regulate an immune response in an animal. The therapeutic composition is preferably released over a period of time ranging from about 1 to about 12 months. A controlled release formulation of the present invention is capable of effecting a treatment preferably for at least about 1 month, more preferably for at least about 3 months, even more preferably for at least about 6 months, even more preferably for at least about 9 months, and even more preferably for at least about 12 months.

[0129] Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered to animals prior to and/or after onset of disease. Acceptable protocols to administer therapeutic compositions in an effective manner include individual dose size, number of doses, frequency of dose administration, and/or mode of administration. Determination of such protocols can be accomplished by those skilled in the art. A suitable single dose is a dose that is capable of regulating the immune response in an animal when administered one or more times over a suitable time period. For example, a preferred single dose of a protein, mimetope or antibody therapeutic composition is from about 1 microgram (μg) to about 10 milligrams (mg) of the therapeutic composition per kilogram body weight of the animal. Booster vaccinations can be administered from about 2 weeks to several years after the original administration. Booster administrations preferably are administered when the immune response of the animal becomes insufficient to protect the animal from disease. A preferred administration schedule is one in which from about 10 μg to about 1 mg of the therapeutic composition per kg body weight of the animal is administered from about one to about two times over a time period of from about 2 weeks to about 12 months. Modes of administration can include, but are not limited to, subcutaneous, intradermal, intravenous, intranasal, intraoccular, oral, transdermal and/or intramuscular routes.

[0130] According to one embodiment, a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can be administered to an animal in a fashion to enable expression of that nucleic acid molecule into a therapeutic protein or therapeutic RNA (e.g., antisense RNA, ribozyme, triple helix forms or RNA drug) in the animal. Nucleic acid molecules can be delivered to an animal in a variety of methods including, but not limited to, (a) administering a naked (i.e., not packaged in a viral coat or cellular membrane) nucleic acid as a genetic vaccine (e.g., as naked DNA or RNA molecules, such as is taught, for example in Wolff et al., 1990, Science 247, 1465-1468) or (b) administering a nucleic acid molecule packaged as a recombinant virus vaccine or as a recombinant cell vaccine (i.e., the nucleic acid molecule is delivered by a viral or cellular vehicle).

[0131] A genetic (i.e., naked nucleic acid) vaccine of the present invention includes a nucleic acid molecule of the present invention and preferably includes a recombinant molecule of the present invention that preferably is replication, or otherwise amplification, competent. A genetic vaccine of the present invention can comprise one or more nucleic acid molecules of the present invention in the form of, for example, a dicistronic recombinant molecule. Preferred genetic vaccines include at least a ortion of a viral genome (i.e., a viral vector). Preferred viral vectors include those based on alphaviruses, poxviruses, adenoviruses, herpesviruses, picornaviruses, and/or retroviruses, with those based on alphaviruses (such as sindbis or Semliki forest virus), species-specific herpesviruses and/or poxviruses being particularly preferred. Any suitable transcription control sequence can be used, including those disclosed as suitable for protein production. Particularly preferred transcription control sequences include cytomegalovirus immediate early (preferably in conjunction with Intron-A), Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat, and tissue-specific transcription control sequences, as well as transcription control sequences endogenous to viral vectors if viral vectors are used. The incorporation of a “strong” polyadenylation signal is also preferred.

[0132] Genetic vaccines of the present invention can be administered in a variety of ways, with intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, transdermal, intranasal and/or oral routes of administration being preferred. A preferred single dose of a genetic vaccine ranges from about 1 nanogram (ng) to about 600 μg, depending on the route of administration and/or method of delivery, as can be determined by those skilled in the art. Suitable delivery methods include, for example, by injection, as drops, aerosolized and/or topically. Genetic vaccines of the present invention can be contained in an aqueous excipient (e.g., phosphate buffered saline) alone or in a carrier (e.g., lipid-based vehicles).

[0133] A recombinant virus vaccine of the present invention includes a recombinant molecule of the present invention that is packaged in a viral coat and that can be expressed in an animal after administration. Preferably, the recombinant molecule is packaging- or replication-deficient and/or encodes an attenuated virus. A number of recombinant viruses can be used, including, but not limited to, those based on alphaviruses, poxviruses, adenoviruses, herpesviruses, picomaviruses, and/or retroviruses. Preferred recombinant virus vaccines are those based on alphaviruses (such as Sindbis virus), raccoon poxviruses, species-specific herpesviruses and/or species-specific poxviruses. An example of methods to produce and use alphavirus recombinant virus vaccines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,602 by Xiong et al., issued Jun. 16, 1998, which is incorporated by this reference herein in its entirety.

[0134] When administered to an animal, a recombinant virus vaccine of the present invention infects cells within the immunized animal and directs the production of a therapeutic protein or RNA nucleic acid molecule that is capable of protecting the animal from disease caused by a parasitic helminth as disclosed herein. For example, a recombinant virus vaccine comprising an immunoregulatory nucleic acid molecule of the present invention is administered according to a protocol that results in the regulation of an immune response in an animal. A preferred single dose of a recombinant virus vaccine of the present invention is from about 1×10⁴ to about 1×10⁸ virus plaque forming units (pfu) per kilogram body weight of the animal. Administration protocols are similar to those described herein for protein-based vaccines, with subcutaneous, intramuscular, intranasal, intraoccular and/or oral administration routes being preferred.

[0135] A recombinant cell vaccine of the present invention includes recombinant cells of the present invention that express at least one protein of the present invention. Preferred recombinant cells for this embodiment include Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Mycobacterium, S. frugiperda, yeast, (including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris), BHK, CV-1, myoblast G8, COS (e.g., COS-7), Vero, MDCK and CRFK recombinant cells. Recombinant cell vaccines of the present invention can be administered in a variety of ways but have the advantage that they can be administered orally, preferably at doses ranging from about 10⁸ to about 10¹² cells per kilogram body weight. Administration protocols are similar to those described herein for protein-based vaccines. Recombinant cell vaccines can comprise whole cells, cells stripped of cell walls or cell lysates.

[0136] The efficacy of a therapeutic composition of the present invention to regulate the immune response in an animal can be tested in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, detection of cellular immunity within the treated animal, determining lymphocyte or dendritic cell activity, detection of immunoglobulin levels, determining hematopoietic stem cell or hematopoietic early progenitor cell development, determining dendritic cell development or challenge of the treated animal with an infectious agent to determine whether the treated animal is resistant to disease. In one embodiment, therapeutic compositions can be tested in animal models such as mice. Such techniques are known to those skilled in the art.

[0137] One embodiment of the present invention is an inhibitory compound. Preferably, such an inhibitory compound is derived from an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, INFα, and/or GM-CSF protein of the present invention. Examples of inhibitory compounds include an antibody of the present invention, that is administered to an animal in an effective manner (i.e., is administered in an amount so as to be present in the animal at a titer that is sufficient, upon interaction of that antibody with a native IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, INFα, and/or GM-CSF protein, to decrease the activity of such proteins in an animal, at least temporarily). Oligonucleotide nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can also be administered in an effective manner, thereby reducing expression of either an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, INFα, and/or GM-CSF protein, in order to interfere with the protein activity targeted in accordance with the present invention. Peptides of an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF protein of the present invention can also be administered in an effective manner, thereby reducing binding of IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF proteins to the appropriate receptor, in order to interfere with the protein activity targeted in accordance with the present invention. An inhibitory compound of an IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, INFα, and/or GM-CSF function can be identified using IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF proteins of the present invention, respectively.

[0138] One embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting IL-4 function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting (e.g., combining, mixing) an isolated IL-4 protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the IL-4 protein binds to IL-4 receptor or stimulates T cells in a T cell proliferation assay, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of IL-4 protein to IL-4 receptor or the stimulation of T cells in a T cell proliferation assay. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting Flt-3 ligand function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting an isolated Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the Flt-3 ligand protein binds to Flt-3 receptor or stimulates dendritic precursor cells in a proliferation assay, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of Flt-3 ligand protein to Flt-3 receptor or the stimulation of dendritic precursor cells in a proliferation assay. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting CD40 function. Such a method includes the steps of (a) contacting an isolated CD40 protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the CD40 protein binds to a CD40 binding partner (e.g., CD154) and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of CD40 protein to the CD40 binding partner. A CD40 binding partner is a molecule that selectively binds to CD40 protein. Likewise, a binding partner for any other immunoregulatory protein of the present invention includes molecules that selectively bind to that particular immunoregulatory protein. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting CD154 function. Such a method includes the steps of (a) contacting an isolated CD154 protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the CD154 protein binds to a CD154 binding partner (e.g., CD40) and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of CD154 protein to the CD154 binding partner. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting IL-5 function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting an isolated IL-5 protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the IL-5 protein binds to IL-5 receptor or stimulates T cells in a T cell proliferation assay, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of IL-5 protein to IL-5 receptor or the stimulation of T cells in a T cell proliferation assay. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting IL-13 function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting an isolated IL-13 protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the IL-13 protein binds to IL-13 receptor or stimulates T cells in a T cell proliferation assay, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of IL-13 protein to IL-13 receptor or the stimulation of T cells in a T cell proliferation assay. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting IFNα function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting an isolated IFNα protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of the compound, the IFNα protein binds to IFNα receptor or inhibits proliferation of GM-CSF stimulated TF-1 cells, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of IFNα protein to IFNα receptor or inhibits proliferation of GM-CSF stimulated TF-1 cells. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method to identify a compound capable of inhibiting GM-CSF function. Such a method includes the steps of: (a) contacting an isolated GM-CSF protein of the present invention, with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, the GM-CSF protein binds to GM-CSF receptor or stimulates T cells in a T cell proliferation assay, and (b) determining if the putative inhibitory compound inhibits the binding of GM-CSF protein to GM-CSF receptor or the stimulation of T cells in a T cell proliferation assay.

[0139] Putative inhibitory compounds to screen include small organic molecules, antibodies (including mimetopes thereof), and/or ligand analogs. Such compounds are also screened to identify those that are substantially not toxic in host animals.

[0140] Preferred IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF, proteins to inhibit are those produced by dogs, cats, horses or humans, even more preferred IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF proteins to inhibit are those produced by domestic dogs or cats. A particularly preferred inhibitor of the present invention is capable of regulating an immune response in an animal. It is also within the scope of the present invention to use inhibitors of the present invention to target diseases involving undesired immune activity in animals. Compositions comprising inhibitors of IL-4, Flt-3 ligand, CD40, CD154, IL-5, IL-13, IFNα, and/or GM-CSF function can be administered to animals in an effective manner to regulate the immune response in the animals, and preferably to prevent autoimmune disease, allergy, infectious disease, inflammation or prevent graft rejection in animals, or to treat animals with such diseases Effective amounts and/or dosing regimens can be determined using techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0141] It is also within the scope of the present invention to use isolated proteins, mimetopes, nucleic acid molecules and/or antibodies of the present invention as diagnostic reagents. Methods to use such diagnostic reagents are well known to those skilled in the art, see, for example, Janeway, et al., ibid., and/or PCT Publication No. WO 98/23964, published Jun. 4, 1998.

[0142] The following examples are provided for the purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

[0143] It is to be noted that the examples include a number of molecular biology, microbiology, immunology and biochemistry techniques considered to be familiar to those skilled in the art. Disclosure of such techniques can be found, for example, in Sambrook et al., ibid. and Ausubel, et al., 1993, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene/Wiley Interscience, New York, N.Y., and related references. Ausubel, et al, ibid. is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Example 1

[0144] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of canine interleukin-4 (IL-4) nucleic acid molecules of the present invention. This example also describes expression of recombinant canine IL-4 in E. coli and mammalian cells; development of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to E. coli expressed canine IL-4; and bioactivity of mammalian-expressed canine IL-4.

[0145] A. Isolation and Sequencing of a Canine IL-4 Nucleic Acid Molecule.

[0146] Initial attempts to isolate a canine IL-4 nucleic acid molecule using various primers corresponding to putative conserved regions of IL-4 nucleic acid molecules failed. Forward and reverse primers were then designed using a sequence tag site (IL-4sts) described by Venta et al. in GenBank. The forward primer was designated as IL-4stsA, having the nucleic acid sequence 5′ CTATTAATGG GTCTCACCTC CCAA CT3′, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 11. The reverse primer was designated as prIL-4stsB, having the nucleic acid sequence 5′ TCAACTCGGT GCACAGAGTC TTGG 3′, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 12. The primers were used to amplify PCR products from a C. Familiaris mitogen activated PBMC cDNA library that was constructed in the Uni-ZAP® XR vector (available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.), using Stratagene's ZAP-cDNA® Synthesis Kit and the manufacturer's protocol. The mRNA was isolated from C. familiaris peripheral blood mononuclear cells about 4 hours after they were activated by a polyclonal activating agent in culture. Four PCR products were produced that had the expected size range. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced using standard techniques. A portion of one of the four products was found to be somewhat homologous with an IL-4 nucleic acid sequence reported in GenBank.

[0147] To identify a cDNA encoding a full-length canine IL-4 protein, the PCR product showing some homology with the IL-4 sequence reported in GenBank was used to generate an about 549 base pair DNA fragment as follows. The PCR product was labeled with ³²P and used as a probe to screen the canine PBMC cDNA library. Hybridization was done at about 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml of ssDNA and 100 μg/ml of tRNA, at about 68° C., for about 36 hr. (the compositions of SSC and Denhardt's are described in Sambrook et al., ibid.). The filters were washed 3 times, for about 30 minutes per wash, at about 55° C. in about 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS, followed by a final wash of about 30 minutes in the same buffer except using about 1×SSC. Positive clones were isolated and the cDNA inserts were sequenced for both strands using vector flanking primers and gene-specific internal primers. Sequence analysis was performed using the GAP program of GCG (available from the University of Wisconsin) using the alignment settings of: gap weight set at 50, length weight set at 3, and average match set at 10 for nucleic acid sequence comparisons; and gap weight set at 12, length weight set at 4, and average match set at 2.912 for amino acid sequence comparisons.

[0148] A cDNA nucleic acid molecule was isolated, referred to herein as nCaIL-4₅₄₉, the coding strand of which was shown to have a nucleic acid sequence denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 1. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 1 is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 3. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 1 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-4₅₄₉ encodes a full-length IL-4 protein of about 132 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-4₁₃₂, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 2, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 43 through nucleotide 45 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 439 through nucleotide 441 of SEQ ID NO: 1. The coding region encoding PCaIL-4₁₃₂ is presented herein as nCaIL-4₃₉₆, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 4 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 5 (the complementary strand). A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 43 through nucleotide 114 of SEQ ID NO: 1. The proposed mature protein (i.e., canine IL-4 protein from which the signal sequence has been cleaved), denoted herein as PCaIL-4₁₀₈, contains about 108 amino acids, extending from residue 25 through residue 132 of SEQ ID NO: 2; PCaIL-4₁₀₈ amino acid sequence is represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 20. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PCaIL-4₁₀₈ is denoted herein as nCaIL-4₃₂₄, extending from nucleotide 115 through nucleotide 438 of SEQ ID NO: 1. nCaIL-4₃₂₄ has a coding sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 19 and a complementary sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 21.

[0149] Comparison of nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1 with nucleic acid sequences reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 1 showed the most homology, i.e., about 89.3% identity, with a feline IL-4 gene. Comparison of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 with amino acid sequences reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 2 showed the most homology, i.e., about 82.6% identity, with a feline IL-4 protein. Sequence analysis was performed using the GCG GAP program as described above.

[0150] B. Expression of Recombinant Canine IL-4 in E. coli and Mammalian Cells

[0151] i. E. coli Expression

[0152] A recombinant molecule capable of expressing the mature form of canine IL-4, denoted herein as pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇, was produced as follows. A 340-nucleotide fragment was PCR amplified from nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-4₅₄₉ (having coding strand SEQ ID NO: 1) using the following primer sequences: positive strand 5′ TGAATTCGGA CATAACTTCA ATATTAC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 38) (EcoRI site in bold) and 5′ TCTCGAGATT CAGCTTCATG CCTGTA 3′ (SEQ ID NO 39) (XhoI site in bold). The resulting 340-base pair fragment was digested with EcoRI and XhoI restriction enzymes (available from New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.), according to the manufacturer's directions, and gel-purified using standard techniques. The digested 340-base pair fragment, now 327 base pairs, was then ligated into pGEX-6P-1 (available from Amersham Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.), which had been previously digested with EcoRI and XhoI and gel purified, to produce recombinant molecule pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇. Recombinant molecules of pGEX produce the protein of interest as a glutathione s-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant molecule pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇ was transformed into DH5alpha cells (available from Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), a recombination deficient strain of E. coli, to produce recombinant cell DH5-pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇. The recombinant cells were screened for presence of insert by PCR and confirmed by enzyme restriction analysis and nucleic acid sequencing, using standard techniques. Several clonal recombinant molecules were transformed into BL21 cells (available from Amersham Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.), a protease deficient strain of E. coli, to produce recombinant cell BL21-pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇. These recombinant cells were screened, and the clone with the highest level of protein yield was selected for scaling up for larger-scale protein production. The resultant recombinant protein is referred to herein as E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉.

[0153] To produce and purify E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉, bacterial cultures of recombinant cell BL21:pGEX-nCaIL-4₃₂₇ were grown in shake flasks at 37° C. and induced with 0.1 mM IPTG (isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside), (available from Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo.) when OD_(600nm) reached about 0.8 units. Growth was allowed to continue for about 4 hours; then bacteria were harvested by centrifugation at 4000×g (times gravity) for 20 minutes. The bacterial pellet was washed and resuspended in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (for recipe, see Sambrook et al, ibid.), then lysed by exposure to gaseous nitrogen pressure in a Parr pressure vessel (available from Parr Instrument Co., Moline, Ill.), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 10,000×g for 20 minutes. The IL-4-GST fusion protein E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ was purified from the supernatant by allowing incubation with glutathione-conjugated resin, removing unbound proteins and then removing the GST tag with PRESCISSION™ protease; all reagents were available from Amersham Pharmacia and all were used according to the manufacturer's directions.

[0154] Concentration and purity of E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ were estimated by BCA Protein Assay kit (available from Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) and SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie staining, respectively. The purified material exhibited a single band of approximately 14 kilodaltons (kD) by Coomassie stained SDS-PAGE.

[0155] ii. CHO Cell Expression

[0156] A recombinant molecule denoted herein as pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉, capable of expressing a full length form of canine IL-4 (including signal sequence) was produced as follows. A 422-nucleotide fragment was PCR amplified from nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-4₅₄₉ using the following primers: 5′ CCCAAGCTTA TGGGTCTCACC TCCCAAC (HindIII site in bold), denoted SEQ ID NO: 40, and 3′ CCTCGAGATT CAGCTTTCAA TGCCTGTA (XhoI site in bold), denoted SEQ ID NO: 127. The 422-base pair PCR product was digested with the restriction endonucleases HindIII and XhoI, both available from New England Biolabs. The resulting 399-base pair product encoding full-length canine IL-4 was gel purified using standard techniques and ligated into the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early transcription control region of the pCMV-Int A plasmid vector that had been digested with HindIII and XhoI (available from New England Biolabs), and gel purified, to produce the recombinant molecule pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉. The pCMV-Int A plasmid vector was generated as referenced by J. E. Osorio et al., 1999, Vaccine 17, 1109-1116. Briefly, vector pRc/RSV, (available from Invitrogen Corp., San Diego, Calif.) was cleaved with restriction enzyme PvuII (available from New England Biolabs), and the 2963-base pair PvuII fragment was gel purified. The fragment was self-ligated to form the vector pRc/RSV(Pvu), which contains a Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) long terminal repeat, a multiple cloning site, a bovine growth hormone polyadenylation sequence, a bacterial origin of replication, and an ampicillin resistance gene. Vector pRc/RSV(Pvu) was restriction enzyme digested using HindIII and NruI. A HindIII/SspI fragment containing the HCMV intermediate early promoter and first intron (i.e. intron A) was ligated into the digested pRc/RSV(Pvu) vector to produce the vector pCMV-Int A.

[0157] Stable expression of CaIL-4 in mammalian cells was carried out by transfecting the recombinant molecule pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ into Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, (CHO, available from ATCC) as follows. Six-well polystyrene tissue culture plates (available from Corning Costar, Acton, Mass.) were seeded with approximately 5×10⁵ cells/well in 2 milliliter (ml) cell culture media, consisting of Minimal Essential Media (MEM) supplemented with 100 mM L-glutamine, 100 mM gentamicin, and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), (all available from Life Technologies). Cells were grown to about 80% confluence (for about 18 hours) before transfection. The recombinant molecules to be transfected were purified using the Plasmid Midi Kit (available from Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) and used according to the manufacturer's instructions. The recombinant molecule pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ was linearized using the restriction enzyme PvuI (available from New England Biolabs). The plasmid pcDNA3, (available from Invitrogen), which contains the neomycin resistance gene, was linearized using the restriction enzyme EcoRI. Approximately 2 μg of pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ was mixed with about 2 ng of linearized pcDNA3 in about 100, μl OPTIMEM™ media, available from Life Technologies. About 10 μl Lipofectamine, (available from Life Technologies) was mixed with 100 μl OPTIMEM. The nucleic acid molecule-containing mixture was then added to the Lipofectamine mixture and incubated at room temperature for about 45 minutes. After incubation, about 0.8 ml OPTIMEM was added, and the mixture was overlaid onto the CHO cells which had been previously rinsed with OPTIMEM. Cells were incubated for about 5 hours at 37° C. 5% CO₂, 95% relative humidity. Approximately 1 ml of cell culture media as described previously, with 20% FBS, was added and the cells were incubated overnight. The media was changed at 24 hours, and at 72 hours post transfection, the cells were split 1:4 and put into fresh cell culture media containing about 500 μg/ml geneticin (G418, available from Life Technologies). The media was changed every 3-5 days. After several weeks, G418 resistant colonies were trypsinized using sterile filter papers, 5-6 mm in diameter that were soaked in trypsin, which were then placed over individual wells of 24 well plates that contained separated widely spaced colonies of CHO cells. After 3 days, the papers were removed. The resulting recombinant cells are referred to herein as CHO-pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉. The recombinant cells were then expanded and tested for the presence of nIL-4₃₉₉ RNA by RT-PCR and tested for the presence of PCaIL-4₁₃₃ protein by Western blot analysis. Westerns were developed with rabbit anti-E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ serum and 607.1 monoclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ protein. See Example 1C for a description of how these antibodies were produced.

[0158] C. Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies to Recombinant Canine IL-4 (i.e. Anti-canine IL-4 Antibodies)

[0159] The following describes the development of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that selectively bind to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉.

[0160] Female Balb/C mice, 6-8 weeks old, were injected subcutaneously, at about 4 sites, with a total of 25 μg E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ (produced as described in Example 1Bi) in Freund's Complete Adjuvant (day 0). Fourteen days later, the mice received an intraperitoneal boost of 25 μg E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ in Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant (day 14). Fourteen days later, serum was tested for antibody titer to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ by ELISA (day 28). Three days prior to fusion, mice were boosted intravenously with 20 μg E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ in PBS (day 35). Splenocytes were harvested from mice demonstrating the highest serum titer by ELISA and depleted of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. This depletion was achieved by incubation of the splenocytes with biotinylated rat anti-mouse CD4 and anti-mouse CD8 monoclonal antibodies, available from PharMingen, San Diego, Calif. Antibody-labeled cells were then removed by incubation with M-280 streptavidin coated magnetic beads, available from Dynal, Oslo, Norway. Depleted splenocytes were fused to SP2/0 cells (available from ATCC) using 50% polyethylene glycol in unsupplemented Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Media (IMDM), following established protocols; see, for example, Harlow E., and Lane D., eds., 1995, Antibodies. A Laboratory Manual, Monoclonal Antibodies, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories; Harlow et al, ibid., is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Fused cells were plated in 96-well plates using IMDM cell culture media, (available from Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md.), which was supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 1×nonessential amino acids, 1×MEM amino acids, 0.05 mg/ml gentamicin, and 0.5 mM β-mercaptoethanol (all reagents available from Life Technologies). Additionally, 100 μM hypoxanthine, 0.4 μM aminopterin, and 16 μM thymidine, all available from Sigma Chemical Corporation, St Louis, Mo., were added.

[0161] After about 7 days, wells positive for hybridoma growth were screened by ELISA to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉. Immulon II 96-well plates (available from VWR, Denver, Colo.) were coated, overnight, with 100 ng/ml E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ in 0.1 M carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, Ph 9.6. After blocking the wells with 20% FBS in Tris buffered saline (TBS), culture supernatants were allowed to bind. Presence of anti-E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ mouse antibody was detected with polyclonal goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, (available from KPL, Gaithersburg, Md.), and color developed with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride (TMB), available from Pierce, Rockford, Ill. Specificity of the ELISA reactivity was verified by Western blot analysis to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉, developed with polyclonal goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated to alkaline phosphatase and nitro-blue tetrazolium/5-bromo-4-chloro-3′-indolyphosphate p-toluidine salt substrate (NBT/BCIP, available from Sigma). Western blots exhibited a single band of approximately 14 kD. Inmunoglobulin isotype of the monoclonal antibodies was determined using IsoStrips, available from Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind. Twenty-three monoclonal antibodies were generated to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉, 22 of which were of the IgM isotype and one of which was IgG1, and is referred to herein as 607.1.

[0162] Polyclonal rabbit serum was produced by repeated immunization (over a 10 month period) of a male, New Zealand White rabbit 12-16 months old. Initial immunization was 50 μg E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ (prepared as described in Example 1bi) in Freund's Complete Adjuvant, at several sites subcutaneously and intradermally. One month later, and at one month intervals thereafter, the rabbit was boosted intradermally with 50 μg E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ in Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant. Serum was collected bi-weekly and titers monitored by ELISA and Western blot to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉. Serum that selectively bound to E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ protein is referred to as anti-E. coliPCaIL-4₁₀₉ serum.

[0163] D. Bioactivity of Mammalian-expressed Canine IL-4

[0164] The following describes a bioassay to detect the expression of canine IL-4 protein expressed in the supernatants from CHO-pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ recombinant cells by screening for production of CD23.

[0165] About 100 μl Ramos cells, available from ATCC, at a concentration of about 3.5×10³ cells/ml were seeded into 96-well flat bottom plates, available from Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, N.J.). These cells were grown in RPMI media supplemented with 100 mM L-glutamine, gentamicin, and 10% FBS (called TCM). The Ramos cells were then treated in 5% CO₂ for 37° C. for approximately 48 h. with one of the following:

[0166] Group Treatment

[0167] 1 TCM

[0168] 2 CHO-pCMV (a transfectant cell line containing the empty pCMV vector) supernatant (1:4 final dilution in TCM)

[0169] 3 CHO-pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ supernatant (1:20 final dilution in TCM)

[0170] Triplicate samples for each treatment group were pooled for staining to look for increased expression of CD23 (one of the reported effects of L-4). Briefly, 1×10⁵ cells from each treatment group were incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 30% FBS for 15-30 min on ice. The cells were collected and incubated with the following: Condition Primary Incubation Secondary Incubation A PBS Goat anti mouse PE B Mouse anti human CD23 Goat anti mouse PE

[0171] Mouse anti-human CD23 monoclonal antibody, available from Pharmingen, was used at about 10 μg/ml. Goat (Fab′2) anti mouse IgG PE, available from Southern Biotechnologies was used at about 2.5 μg/ml. These reagents were diluted in PBS with 5% FBS . Primary incubations were performed for 30-60 minutes on ice, and secondary incubations were performed for 20-30 min on ice. Three washes of PBS/5% FBS were performed in between each incubation. Cells were then analyzed on a flow cytometer (e.g., MoFlow Desk Top System, available from Cytomation, Ft. Collins, Colo.) with the fluorescein gate set at 101. The results are shown below in Table 2. TABLE 2 Induction of CD23 on Ramos cells post-treatment with supernatants from CHO-pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉. Treatment Condition % positive 1 A 0 B 1 2 A 8 B 1 3 A 3 B 99

[0172] Table 2 shows that the canine Il-4 expressed by the CHO transfectant CHO-pCMV-nCaIL-4₃₉₉ is biologically active, demonstrated by its ability to induce expression of CD23 in Ramos cells.

Example 2

[0173] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine Flt-3 ligand and feline Flt-3 nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention. The example also describes expression of a canine Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention in CHO cells, as well as detection of the expressed canine Flt-3 ligand protein.

[0174] A. Canine Flt-3 Ligand Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins.

[0175] i. This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0176] A canine Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule was produced as follows. A pair of primers was initially used to amplify DNA from the C. familiaris mitogen activated PBMC cDNA library described above in Example 1. A forward primer referred to as FLT3F1, having the nucleic acid sequence 5′CTGGCGCCAG CCTGGAGCCC 3′, designated herein as SEQ ID NO: 13 was used in combination with a reverse primer referred to herein as FLT3B1, having the nucleic acid sequence 5′ GGGAGATGTT GGTCTGGACG 3′, referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 14 to amplify Flt-3 ligand DNA from the cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primers were designed using conserved regions of IL-4 cDNA sequences from other species in the public databases corresponding to the positions shown below: Database Accession number Nucleotides Animal gb U04806 102-121 human gb L23636 41-60 mouse gb U04806  77-458 human gb L23636 419-400 mouse

[0177] A 360-base pair (bp) PCR product was generated in the above reaction that was purified, radiolabeled and used as a probe to screen the cDNA library. Hybridization was performed in 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml ssDNA and 100 μg/ml of tRNA, at 68° C., for about 36 hr. The filters were washed 3 times, for about 30 minutes per wash, at 55° C. in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, followed by a final wash in 0.25×SSC, for about 30 minutes, at 55° C. Several positive phage clones were identified and shown to produce PCR products when used as templates in combination with the FLT3F1 and FLT3B1 primers. The DNA inserts in the phage clones were sequenced using standard techniques and failed to yield any clones containing DNA inserts having a portion homologous to published Flt-3 ligand sequences. The 360-bp PCR fragment generated above was then cloned into the vector pcDNA 2.1 (available from Invitrogen Corp., San Diego, Calif.). Several independent colonies were generated and the sequences of their inserts determined. One clone was identified that which contained insert sequence having a portion that was somewhat homologous to published human or murine Flt-3 ligand sequence.

[0178] Two canine Flt-3 ligand-specific primers were then designed using the nucleic acid sequence obtained using the 360-bp PCR product described above. Primer Sequence SEQ ID NO DFLB1 5′ GACCAGGCGCCAGAACGC 3′ SEQ ID NO:15 DFLF1 5′ CGGTCACCATCCGCAAGC 3′ SEQ ID NO:16

[0179] The 5′ region of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule was PCR amplified from the cDNA library using the DFLB1 primer in combination with the 5′ T3 vector primer from the Uni-ZAP® XR vector (available from Stratagene). The 3′ region of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule was PCR amplified from the cDNA library using the DFLF1 in combination with the 3′ T7 primer from the Uni-ZAP® XR vector (available from Stratagene). A 855-bp PCR product was obtained representing the 5′ region of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule. A 265-bp PCR product was obtained representing the 3′ region of a Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecule. Both the 855-bp PCR product and 265-bp PCR product were cloned and sequenced using standard methods. Additional canine Flt-3 ligand-specific primers were designed using the nucleic acid sequence obtained from the sequence of the 855-bp PCR product and 265-bp PCR products. Primer Sequence SEQ ID NO DFLB2 5′ TGGCAAGGCAGTGGCCTC 3′ SEQ ID NO:17 DFLF2 5′ GCCGAGATGATAGTGCTGGC 3′ SEQ ID NO:18

[0180] A 546-bp PCR product was generated using the primer DFLF2 in combination with the primer DFLB2 to amplify a PCR product from the cDNA library. The 546-bp PCR product was then purified, radiolabelled and used as a probe to screen the cDNA library. Hybridization was performed in 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml of ssDNA and 100 82 g/ml of tRNA, at 68° C., for about 36 hr. The filters were washed in 1.25×SSC, for about 30 minutes, at 55° C. Four cDNA clones encoding full-length canine Flt-3 ligand were isolated. Nucleic acid sequence was obtained using standard techniques.

[0181] A Flt-3 ligand clone was isolated, referred to herein as nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, the coding strand of which was shown to have a nucleic acid sequence denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 6. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 6 is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 8. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 6 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ encodes a full-length Flt-3 ligand protein of about 294 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 7, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 35 through nucleotide 37 of SEQ ID NO: 6 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 917 through nucleotide 919 of SEQ ID NO: 6. The coding region encoding PCaFlt3L₂₉₄ is presented herein as nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 9 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 10 (the complementary strand). A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 35 through nucleotide 112 of SEQ ID NO: 6. The proposed mature protein (i.e., canine Flt-3 ligand protein from which the signal sequence has been cleaved), denoted herein as PCaFlt3L₂₆₈ (SEQ ID NO: 23), contains about 268 amino acids, extending from residue 27 through residue 294 of SEQ ID NO: 7. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PCaFlt3L₂₆₈ is denoted herein as nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, extending from nucleotide 113 through nucleotide 916 of SEQ ID NO: 6. nCaFlt3L₈₀₄ has a coding sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 22 and a complementary sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 24.

[0182] Below is a description of the identification of alternatively spliced Canis Flt3 ligand transcripts. Besides cDNA clones such as nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ encoding the full-length canine Flt3 ligand protein, two splice variants of canine Flt3 ligand cDNA clones were also isolated, using the same hybridization conditions as mentioned previously in this Example. One such variant (Clone 1), denoted herein as nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, has a coding strand the nucleic acid sequence of which is represented as SEQ ID NO: 25. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 25 is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 27. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 25 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ encodes a Flt-3 ligand protein of 276 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, the amino acid sequence of which is represented by SEQ ID NO: 26, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 74 through nucleotide 76 of SEQ ID NO: 25 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 902 through nucleotide 904 of SEQ ID NO: 25. The coding region encoding PCaFlt3L₂₇₆ is represented herein as nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 28 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 29 (the complementary strand). Alignment of nucleic acid molecules nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ and nCaFlt3L₈₂₈ indicates that the nucleic acid molecules are identical except for a deletion in nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, which spans from nucleotide 343 through nucleotide 396 of nCaFlt3L₈₈₂. Accordingly, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈ encodes 18 fewer amino acids than nCaFlt3L₈₈₂. The deletion in PCaFlt3L₂₇₆, which spans from residue 115 through residue 132 of PCaFlt3L₂₉₄, occurs between helix III and helix IV of the canine Flt3 ligand protein inferred from alignment with the human and mouse Flt3 ligand protein (Lyman et al., Cell, vol. 75, pp. 1157-1167, 1993; Hannum et al., Nature, vol. 368, pp. 643-648, 1994; Lyamn et al., Blood, vol. 83, pp. 2795-2801, 1994). In addition, the alignment shows that there are 39 more nucleotides in the 5′ untranslated region of nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ (nucleotides 1 to 39) than nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ and there are 2 more nucleotides in the 3′ untranslated region of nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ (nucleotides 922 to 923) than nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃. The remaining sequences between nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ and nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃ are identical. A putative mature form of nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ (without the signal sequence) is predicted. The putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 74 to nucleotide 151 of SEQ ID NO: 25. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PCaFlt3L₇₅₀, represented by SEQ ID NO: 3 1, contains about 250 amino acids, extending from residue 27 through residue 276 of SEQ ID NO: 26. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PCaFlt3L₂₅₀, extending from nucleotide 152 through nucleotide 901 of SEQ ID NO: 6, denoted herein as nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, is represented by SEQ ID NO: 30 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 32 (the complement strand).

[0183] A second variant (Clone 19) is represented by nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, the coding strand of which is denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 33. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 33 is denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 35. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 33 suggests that nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉ encodes a Flt-3 ligand protein of 31 amino acids, PCaFlt3L₃₁, denoted SEQ ID NO: 34, assuming an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 74 through nucleotide 76 and a stop codon spanning nucleotide 167 through nucleotide 169 of SEQ ID NO: 33. The coding region encoding PCaFlt3L₃₁ is represented herein as nCaFlt3L₉₃, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 36 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 37 (the complementary strand). Alignment of nucleic acid molecules nCaFlt3L₉₈₅ and nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉ indicates the presence of an insertion of 91 nucleotides in nCaF13L₁₀₁₉. The insertion spans nucleotide 107 through nucleotide 198 of nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉. A stop codon is found in this insertion in frame with the predicted initiation codon, which span nucleotide 74 through nucleotide 76 of SEQ ID NO: 6. Since this insertion (with an in-frame stop codon) occurs in or close to the signal peptide, it is likely that nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉ encodes a nonfunctional Flt-3 ligand protein.

[0184] Comparison of nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 6 with nucleic acid sequences reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 6 showed the most homology, i.e., about 69.8% identity, with a human Flt-3 ligand gene. Comparison of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 7 with amino acid sequences reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 7 showed the most homology, i.e. about 71% identity, with a human Flt-3 ligand protein. Sequence analysis was performed with DNAsis™ using the alignment settings of: gap penalty set at 5; number of top diagonals set at 5; fixed gap penalty set at 10; K-tuple set at 2; window size set at 5 and floating gap penalty set at 10.

[0185] ii. This example describes the production of a recombinant molecule encoding a full length canine Flt-3 ligand protein and expression of that protein by a recombinant cell of the present invention.

[0186] A recombinant molecule, denoted herein as pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ and capable of expressing a full length form of Flt-3 ligand, was produced as follows. Nucleic acid molecule nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ was digested with the restriction endonucleases EcoRI and XbaI, gel purified and ligated into pCMV-Int A (prepared by methods described in Example 1) to produce recombinant molecule pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂. Insert size and identity were confirmed by restriction digestion, PCR, and sequencing analyses.

[0187] Stable transfectants expressing the recombinant molecule pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ were established in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (CHO, available from ATCC) as follows. Briefly, six-well polystyrene tissue culture plates were seeded with approximately 4×10⁵ cells per well in 2 ml of MEM (available from Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) supplemented with 100 mM L-glutamine, gentamicin, and 10% FBS (TCM). Cells were grown to about 80% confluence (about 18 hr). The recombinant molecule to be transfected was prepared using the Qiagen Endotoxin-Free Plasmid Maxi Kit as per the manufacturer's instructions. The recombinant molecule was linearized with the restriction enzyme PvuI, extracted with phenol, and precipitated with isopropanol. The plasmid pcDNA 3, available from Invitrogen, which contains the neomycin resistance gene, was linearized with the restriction enzyme EcoRI. Approximately 1 μg of recombinant plasmid DNA and 100 ng of pcDNA3 were mixed with about 100 μl OptiMEM medium, available from Life Technologies. About 10 μl Lipofectamine (available from Life Technologies) was mixed with 100 μl OptiMEM. The DNA-containing mixture was then added to the Lipofectamine mixture and incubated at room temperature for about 30 min. After incubation, about 800 μl of OptiMEM was added, and the entire mixture was overlaid onto the CHO cells that had been rinsed with OptiMEM. Cells were incubated for 6 hours at 37° C., 5% CO₂, 95% relative humidity. Approximately 1 ml of TCM with 20% FBS was added, and the cells were incubated overnight. The media was changed after about 24 hr. About 72 hr post transfection, the cells were split 1:4 and put into selection TCM containing 500 μg/ml Geneticin (G418), available from Life Technologies. The medium was changed every 3-5 days. After several weeks, G418-resistant colonies were trypsinized, and the cells were plated into 24 well plates. The resulting recombinant cells are referred to herein as CHO-pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂. The recombinant cells were then expanded for testing.

[0188] iii. The following describes the detection of expression of a canine Flt-3 ligand protein of the present invention by CHO-pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, a recombinant cell of the present invention.

[0189] Recombinant cells CHO-pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, produced as described in Example 2, part (B)(ii) above, were tested for surface expression of canine Flt-3 ligand using a cross-reactive goat anti-human Flt-3 ligand polyclonal antibody as follows. Briefly, 1×10⁵ CHO-pCMV-nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ cells or CHO-pCMV cells (i.e., cells transfected with an empty vector as described in Example 1) were incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 30% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for about 30 min on ice. The cells were then spun down and treated with the following: Condition Primary Incubation Secondary Incubation 1 PBS Rabbit (Fab′2) anti sheep (H + L) FITC 2 Goat anti-human Rabbit (Fab′2) anti sheep (H + L) FITC Flt3 ligand

[0190] Goat anti-human Flt3 ligand, available from R and D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn. was used at about 20 μg/ml. Rabbit (Fab′2) anti sheep (H+L) FITC, available from Southern Biotechnology Associates, Inc., was used at about 10 μg/ml. These reagents were diluted in PBS/5% FBS. All incubations were in 50 μl for about 1 hr on ice with 2 washes of PBS/5% FBS in between each incubation. Cells were then analyzed on a flow cytometer (e.g., MoFlow Desk Top System, available from Cytomation, Ft. Collins, Colo.) with the fluorescein gate set at 10¹. The results are shown below in Table 3. TABLE 3 Expression of canine Flt3 ligand on CHO transfectants. % positive Cells Condition 1 Condition 2 CHO-pCMV 1 1 CHO-pCMV nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ 2 48 CHO-pCMV nCaFlt3L₈₈₂ 1 20

[0191] Table 3 shows that canine Flt3 ligand is expressed on the surface of the CHO transfectants.

[0192] B. Feline Flt-3 Ligand Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins.

[0193] This example describes the production of certain feline Flt-3 ligand nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0194] A nucleic acid molecule encoding a feline Flt 3 ligand was isolated from a feline PBMC cDNA library as follows. A Felis catus mitogen activated PBMC cDNA library was constructed in the Uni-Zap-R XR™ vector, available from Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., using Stratagene's Zap-cDNA-R™ Synthesis Kit and the manufacturer's protocol using mRNA isolated from F. catus peripheral blood mononuclear cells about 4 hours after they were activated by a polyclonal activating agent in culture. PCR amplification to isolate a feline Flt 3 ligand nucleic acid molecule was conducted according to the following set of steps: one initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 3 minutes; then 35 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 30 seconds, 53.8° C. for 30 seconds, and 72° C. for 105 seconds; then one final extension step at 72° C. for 8 minutes. A 395-nucleotide cDNA fragment containing the 5′ end of feline Flt3 ligand coding region, denoted nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, was amplified from the feline PMBC cDNA library using the following primers: vector primer T3 having nucleic acid sequence 5′ AATTAACCCT CACTAAAGGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 142) (available from Stratagene) and the antisense primer having SEQ ID NO: 14, described in Example 2A. The nucleic acid sequence of the coding strand of nFeFlt3L₃₉₅ is denoted SEQ ID NO: 41. A 793-nucleotide cDNA fragment containing the 3′ end of feline Flt3 ligand coding region, denoted nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, was isolated using sense primer 2 having the nucleic acid sequence 5′ CACAGYCCCA TCTCCTCC 3′ (where Y was either T or C) denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 151, in conjunction with vector primer T7 having the nucleic acid sequence 5′ GTAATACGAC TCACTATAGG GC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 152). The nucleic acid sequence of the coding strand of nFeFlt3L₇₉₃ is denoted SEQ ID NO: 42. Nucleic acid molecules nFeFIt3L₃₉₅ and nFeFlt3L₇₉₃ overlap by 246 nucleotides and form a composite sequence encoding a Flt3 ligand protein that is similar in length to that of PCaFlt3L₂₉₄. This composite feline Flt3 ligand cDNA is referred to herein as nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, the coding strand of which was shown to have nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 43. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 43 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 45. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 43 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nFeFlt3L₉₄₂ encodes a Flt3 ligand protein of 291 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 44, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 31 through nucleotide 33 of SEQ ID NO: 43 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 904 through nucleotide 906 of SEQ ID NO: 43. The coding region encoding PFeFlt3L₂₉₁, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 46 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 47 (the complementary strand). A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 31 to nucleotide 108 of SEQ ID NO: 43. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PFeFlt3L₂₆₅, denoted SEQ ID NO: 49, contains about 265 amino acids, extending from residue 27 though residue 291 of SEQ ID NO: 44. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PFeFlt3L₂₆₅ is denoted herein as nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, (SEQ ID NO: 48) extending from nucleotide 109 through nucleotide 903 of SEQ ID NO: 43. SEQ ID NO: 48 has a complementary strand denoted SEQ ID NO: 50.

[0195] Sequence alignment indicates that nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 43 shares the highest (67.8%) identity with the nucleic acid sequence of human Flt-3 ligand (GenBank accession numbers U04806 and U03858). Amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 44 shares the highest (70.2%) identity with human Flt-3 ligand protein (GenBank accession numbers U04806 and U03858).

Example 3.

[0196] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine CD40 and feline CD40 nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0197] A. Canine CD40 Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0198] This example describes the production of certain canine CD40 nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0199] A canine CD40 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention was produced by PCR amplification as follows. A 321-nucleotide canine CD40 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaCD40₃₂₁, was amplified from a canine PBMC cDNA library, prepared as described in Example 1, using two degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed in accordance with conserved regions of human, bovine, rabbit, and mouse CD40 gene sequences available in GenBank: sense primer, 5′ TGCCCRSTCG GCTTCTTCTC C 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 128; and antisense primer, 5′ CGACTCTCTT TRCCRTCCTC CTG 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 129, where R was either A or G and S was either G or C. PCR conditions were as follows: one initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 3 minutes; then 35 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 30 seconds, then 53° C. for 30 seconds, then 72° C. for 105 seconds; followed by one final extension at 72° C. for 5 minutes. The resulting PCR product, i.e., nCaCD40₃₂₁, with a coding strand represented by SEQ ID NO: 51, was radiolabeled using standard techniques and used to screen the canine PBMC cDNA library, under the following hybridization conditions: hybridized in 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml single stranded DNA, 100 μg/ml tRNA for 36 hours at 68° C., followed by a wash of 0. 1% SDS, 1×SSC at 55° C. for 60 minutes. A clone (Clone 18B) containing a 1425-nucleotide canine CD40 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, was obtained. The nucleic acid sequence of the coding strand of nCaCD40₄₂₅ is represented as SEQ ID NO: 52. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 52 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 54. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 52 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaCD40₁₄₂₅ encodes a canine CD40 protein of 274 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaCD40₂₇₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 53, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 196 through nucleotide 198 of SEQ ID NO: 52 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 1018 through nucleotide 1020 of SEQ ID NO: 52. The coding region encoding PCaCD40₂₇₄, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nCaCD40₈₂₂, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 55 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 56 (the complementary strand).

[0200] A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 196 through nucleotide 252 of SEQ ID NO: 52. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PCaCD40₂₅₅, represented by SEQ ID NO: 58, contains about 255 amino acids, extending from residue 20 through residue 274 of SEQ ID NO: 53. The nucleotide sequence encoding PCaCD40₂₅₅, which extends from nucleotide 253 through nucleotide 1017 of SEQ ID NO: 52, is denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaCD40₇₆₅, represented by SEQ ID NO: 57 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 59 (the complement strand).

[0201] Sequence analysis was performed with DNAsis™ using the alignment settings of: gap penalty set at 5; number of top diagonals set at 5; fixed gap penalty set at 10; k-tuple set at 2; window size set at 5 and floating gap penalty set at 10. At the amino acid level, PCaCD40₂₇₄ shares 65.3%, 50.1%, and 42.3% identity with the CD40 proteins of human, bovine, and mouse, respectively (Stamenkovic et al., EMBO J., vol. 8:1403-1410, 1989; Hirano et al., Immunology, vol. 90, pp. 294-300, 1997; Grimaldi et al., J. Immunol., vol. 143, pp. 3921-3926; Torres and Clark, J. Immuno., vol. 148, pp. 620-626). At the nucleotide level, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅ shares 69.3%, 69.4%, and 40.4% identity with the cDNA sequences of human, bovine, and mouse CD40, respectively.

[0202] B. Feline CD40 Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0203] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain nucleic acid molecules of the present invention that encode certain feline CD40 proteins of the present invention.

[0204] A 336-nucleotide feline CD40 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nFeCD40₃₃₆, was amplified from a feline PBMC cDNA library, prepared as described in Example 2, using PCR conditions and primers as described in Example 3A, i.e., a sense primer having SEQ ID NO: 128; and an antisense primer having SEQ ID NO: 129. The resulting PCR product, i.e., nFeCD40₃₃₆, was shown to have a coding strand the nucleic acid sequence of which is represented as SEQ ID NO: 60. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 60 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 62. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 60 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nFeCD40₃₃₆ encodes a partial CD40 protein of 112 amino acids, denoted herein as PFeCD40₁₁₂, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 61, assuming an open reading frame spanning from nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 336 of SEQ ID NO: 60.

[0205] Comparison of nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 60 with nucleic acid molecules reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 60 showed the most homology, i.e. 67.2% identity, with a human CD40 gene. Comparison of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 61 with amino acid sequences reported in GenBank indicates that SEQ ID NO: 61 showed the most homology, i.e. about 54.4% identity, with a human CD40 protein. Sequence analysis was performed using the GCG GAP program as described above.

Example 4

[0206] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine CD154 (canine CD40 ligand) and feline CD154 (feline CD40 ligand) nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0207] A. Canine CD154 (CD40 ligand) Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0208] The following describes the isolation and sequencing of certain cDNA nucleic acid molecules encoding certain canine CD154 (CD40 ligand) proteins of the present invention.

[0209] A canine CD154 nucleic acid molecule of the present invention was produced by PCR amplification as follows. A 390-nucleotide canine CD40 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaCD154₃₉₀, was amplified from a canine PBMC cDNA library, prepared as described in Example 1, using two degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed in accordance with human CD154 gene sequences available in GenBank: sense primer, 5′ CCTCAAATTG CGGCACATGT C 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 130; and antisense primer, 5′ CTGTTCAGAG TTTGAGTAAG CC 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 131. PCR conditions used for canine CD154 cDNA amplification were standard conditions for PCR amplification (Sambrook, et al., ibid.). The resulting PCR product, i.e., nCaCD154₃₉₀, with a coding strand represented by SEQ ID NO: 63, was radiolabeled using standard techniques and used to screen the canine PBMC cDNA library, under the hybridization conditions described in Example 3. A clone containing a 1878-nucleotide canine CD154 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaCD154₁₈₇₈, was obtained. The nucleic acid sequence of the coding strand of nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ is represented as SEQ ID NO: 64. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 64 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 66. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 64 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ encodes a CD154 protein of 260 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaCD154₂₆₀, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 65, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 284 through nucleotide 286 of SEQ ID NO: 64 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 1064 through nucleotide 1066 of SEQ ID NO: 64. The coding region encoding PCaCD154₂₆₀, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nCaCD154₇₈₀, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 67 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 68 (the complementary strand).

[0210] A putative signal/membrane anchor sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 284 through nucleotide 430 of SEQ ID NO: 64. The proposed soluble CD154 protein, denoted herein as PCaCD154₂₁₁, represented by SEQ ID NO: 70, contains about 211 amino acids, extending from residue 50 though residue 260 of SEQ ID NO: 65. The nucleotide sequence encoding PCaCD154₂₁₁, which extends from nucleotide 431 through nucleotide 1063 of SEQ ID NO: 64, is denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaCD154₆₃₃, represented by SEQ ID NO: 69 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 71 (the complement strand).

[0211] Sequence analysis was performed with DNAsis™ using the alignment settings of: gap penalty set at 5; number of top diagonals set at 5; fixed gap penalty set at 10; k-tuple set at 2; window size set at 5 and floating gap penalty set at 10. At the amino acid level, PCaCD154₂₆₀ shares 78.0%, 77.6%, and 67.6% identity with the CD154 proteins of human, bovine, and mouse, respectively (Graf et al., Eur. J. Immunol., vol. 22, pp. 3191-3194, 1992; Hollenbaugh, et al., EMBO J., vol. 11:4313-4321, 1992; Gauchat et al., FEBS lett., vol., 315, pp. 259-266, 1993; Mertens et al., Immunogenetics, vol. 42, pp. 430-431; Armitage et al., Nature, vol. 357, pp. 80-82; 1992). At the nucleotide level, nCaCD154₁₈₇₈ shares 81.1%, 81.5%, and 74.4% identity with the sequences of human, bovine, and mouse CD154 cDNAs, respectively.

[0212] B. Feline CD154 (CD40 ligand) Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0213] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain nucleic acid molecules encoding certain feline CD154 (CD40 ligand) proteins of the present invention.

[0214] A feline CD154 nucleic acid molecule was isolated by PCR amplification from a feline PBMC cDNA library, prepared as described in Example 2, using Amplitaq DNA polymerase (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc, Foster City, Calif.) under the following PCR protocol: one initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 5 minutes; then 40 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 45 seconds, then 48° C. for 45 seconds, then 72° C. for 120 seconds; followed by a final extension at 72° C. for 7 minutes. The forward and reverse primers used were based on human CD154 cDNA sequences outside the open reading frame in the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions, respectively, so that the open reading frame in the PCR product contained only feline sequences. The sequence of the forward primer was 5′GAAGATACCA TTTCAACTTT AACACAGC 3′ SEQ ID NO: 132, and that of the reverse primer was 5′ TGCTGTATTG TGAAGACTCC CAGC 3′ SEQ ID NO: 133. PCR products were cloned into the TA cloning vector (available from Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.), and the resulting clones were sequenced using an ABI Prism™ Model 377 Automatic DNA Sequencer (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc.). DNA sequencing reactions were performed using Prism™ dRhodamine Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction kits (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc.).

[0215] The PCR product was sequenced and found to contain 885 nucleotides, and is denoted as nFeCD154₈₈₅. The nucleotide sequence of the coding strand of nFeCD154₈₈₅ is represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 72, and its complement is denoted SEQ ID NO: 74. Translation of the open reading frame in SEQ ID NO: 72 suggests that nFeCD154₈₈₅ encodes a protein containing 260 amino acids, referred to herein as PFeCD154₂₆₀, the amino acid sequence of which is presented as SEQ ID NO: 73, assuming an open reading frame in which the first codon spans from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 31 of SEQ ID NO: 72, and the stop codon spans from nucleotide 809 through nucleotide 811 of SEQ ID NO: 72. The encoded protein has a predicted molecular weight of 28.6 kDa for the precursor protein and 27.2 kDa for the mature protein. The coding region encoding PFeCD154₂₆₀, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nFeCD154₇₈₀, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 75 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 76 (the complementary strand)

[0216] A putative signal/membrane anchor sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 175 of SEQ ID NO: 72. The proposed soluble feline CD154 protein, denoted herein as PFeCD154₂₁₁, represented by SEQ ID NO: 78, contains about 211 amino acids, extending from residue 50 though residue 260 of SEQ ID NO: ₇₃. The nucleotide sequence encoding PFeCD154₂₁₁, denoted herein as nFeCD154₆₃₃ which extends from nucleotide 176 through nucleotide 808 of SEQ ID NO: 72, is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 77 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 79 (the complementary strand).

[0217] Comparison of feline CD154 nucleotide and amino acid sequences with those of other species published in GenBank reveals that the feline CD154 nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 75 is 86%, 88% and 75% identical to the human, bovine and murine CD154 gene sequences, respectively (Genbank accession number L07414, Z48469 and X56453 respectively). At the amino acid sequence level, SEQ ID NO: 73 is 81%, 82%, and 67% identical to the human, bovine and murine CD154 amino acid sequences, respectively. Hydrophobicity analysis of feline CD154 proteins results in a pattern similar to those of human, bovine and murine CD154 proteins. A putative N-glycosylation site was identified at position 239 in PFeCD154₂₆₀ that is conserved in the human, bovine and murine amino acid sequences. Five cysteine residues are present in the feline CD154 protein sequence SEQ ID NO: 73. Four of the five residues, located at positions 72, 84, 177 and 217 of PFeCD154₂₆₀, are conserved in all four species and are likely involved in disulfide bond formation. The cysteine residue located at position 193 of PFeCD154₂₆₀ is present in all but the murine sequence.

Example 5

[0218] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine IL-5 nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention. This example also describes expression of canine IL-5 in a Pichia expression system.

[0219] A. Isolation and Sequencing of Canine IL-5 Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0220] A canine IL-5 cDNA nucleic acid molecule encoding a canine IL-5 protein was isolated by PCR amplification from a canine PBMC cDNA library (prepared as described in Example 1) using PCR conditions as described in Example 4B and the following primers. Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed in accordance with conserved regions of human and cat IL-5 gene sequences available in GenBank: sense primer, 5′ ATGCACTTTC TTTGCC 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 134; antisense primer 1, 5′ CTGGAGGAAA AKACTTCRAT GATTCTGATA TCTGAAATAT AT 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 135; and antisense primer 2, 5′ CTGACYCTTK STTGGSCCTC ATTCTCA 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 136, where K was G or T, R was either A or G, S was either G or C, and Y was either T or C.

[0221] An about 610-nucleotide canine IL-5 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaIL-5₆₁₀, was obtained using primers having SEQ ID NO: 134 and SEQ ID NO: 135, respectively. The sequence of the coding strand of nCaIL-5₆₁₀ is represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 80. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 80 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 82. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 80 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-5₆₁₀ encodes an IL-5 protein of 134 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-5₁₃₄, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 81, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 31 of SEQ ID NO: 80 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 431 through nucleotide 433 of SEQ ID NO: 80. The coding region encoding PCaIL-13₁₃₄, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nCaIL-5₄₀₂, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 83 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 84 (the complementary strand).

[0222] An about 488-nucleotide fragment, denoted herein as nCaIL-5₄₈₈, isolated by PCR with primers having SEQ ID NO: 134 and SEQ ID NO: 136, respectively, corresponds to nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 488 of nCaIL-5₆₁₀.

[0223] A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 29 through nucleotide 85 of SEQ ID NO: 80. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PCaIL-5₁₁₅, represented by SEQ ID NO: 86, contains about 115 amino acids, extending from residue 20 though residue 134 of SEQ ID NO: 81. The nucleotide sequence encoding PCaIL-5₁₁₅, which extends from nucleotide 86 through nucleotide 430 of SEQ ID NO: 80, is denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-5₃₄₅, represented by SEQ ID NO: 85 (coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 87 (the complement strand).

[0224] Sequence analysis was performed with DNAsis™ using the alignment settings of: gap penalty set at 5; number of top diagonals set at 5; fixed gap penalty set at 10; k-tuple set at 2; window size set at 5 and floating gap penalty set at 10. At the amino acid level, PCaIL-5₁₃₄ shared 82.8% and 57.4% identity with feline and human IL-5 proteins, respectively (Padrid et al., Am. J. Vet. Res., vol. 59, pp. 1263-1269, 1998; Azuma et al., Nucleic Acids Res., vol. 14, pp. 9149-9158, 1986). At the nucleotide level, nCaIL-5₆₁₀ shared 81.7% and 75% identity with the cDNA sequences of the feline and human IL-5, respectively.

[0225] B. Expression of Canine IL-5 in Pichia

[0226] This example describes the expression in Pichia of a canine IL-5 cDNA fragment, namely a canine IL-5 nucleic acid molecule denoted nCaIL-5₃₄₈, the coding strand of which consists of nucleotides 86-433 of SEQ ID NO: 80, and as such, encodes a predicted mature canine IL-5 protein having SEQ ID NO: 86. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-5₃₄₈, was PCR amplified from nCaIL-5₆₁₀ using sense primer 5′ GGGCTCGAGA AAAGATTTGC TGTAGAAAAT CCCATG 3′ denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 137, with nucleotides 16-36 corresponding to nucleotides 86-106 of SEQ ID NO: 80; and antisense primer 5′ CCCGCGGCCG CTCAACTTTC CGGTGTCCAC TC 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 138, with nucleotides 12-32 corresponding to the reverse complement of nucleotides 413-433 of SEQ ID NO: 80. To facilitate cloning, an XhoI site (shown in bold) was added to the sense primer and a NotI site (shown in bold) was added to the antisense primer. The PCR-amplified fragment was digested with restriction endonucleases XhoI and NotI, gel purified and ligated into pPICZαA plasmid vector, available from Invitrogen, that had been digested by Xho I and Not I and gel purified, to produce recombinant molecule pPICZαA-nCaIL-5₃₄₈. The insert in the recombinant molecule was verified by DNA sequencing The recombinant molecule was used to transform Pichia pastoris strain X-33 by electroporation to produce recombinant cell Pichia-pPICZαA-nCaIL-5₃₄₈. Recombinant cell Pichia-pPICZαA-nCaIL-5₃₄₈ was cultured using techniques known to those skilled in the art and IL-5 expression was induced with methanol. The supernatant was recovered and submitted to SDS-PAGE. Silver staining of the resultant gel indicated a band of about 18 kDa only seen in the supernatant of Pichia transformed with recombinant molecule pPICZαA-nCaIL-5₃₄₈.

Example 6

[0227] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of certain canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention. This example also describes expression of canine IL-13 in E. coli.

[0228] A. Isolation and Sequencing of Canine IL-13 Nucleic Acid Molecules and Proteins

[0229] A canine IL-13 cDNA nucleic acid molecule encoding a canine IL-13 protein was isolated by PCR amplification from a canine PBMC cDNA library (prepared as described in Example 1) using the following primers and PCR conditions: Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed in accordance with conserved regions of human and cat IL-5 gene sequences available in GenBank: sense primer, 5′ GTCMTKGCTC TYRCTTGCCT TGG 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 139; antisense primer 1, 5′ AAASTGGGCY ACYTCGATTT TGG 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 140; antisense primer 2, 5′ GTGATGTTGM YCAGCTCCTC 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 141, where M was either A or C, K was G or T, R was either A or G, S was either G or C, and Y was either T or C. PCR conditions used were as follows: One initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 3 minutes; then 38 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 30 seconds, 51.8° C. for 45 seconds, then 72° C. for 105 seconds; then a final extension at 72° C. for 5 minutes.

[0230] An about 272-nucleotide canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaIL-13₂₇₂ and having a coding strand represented by SEQ ID NO: 89, was PCR amplified using primers having nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 139 and SEQ ID NO: 140, respectively. An about 166-nucleotide canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecule, denoted nCaIL-13₁₆₆ and having a coding strand represented by SEQ ID NO: 88, was isolated using primers having nucleic acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 142 (see Example 2B) and SEQ ID NO: 141, respectively. Nucleic acid molecules nCaIL-13₂₇₂ and nCaIL-13₂₇₂ form a overlapping composite fragment of 383 nucleotides, denoted nCaIL-13₃₈₃. Two canine IL-13 specific primers (i.e., sense primer, 5′ ATGGCGCTCT GGTTGACTGT 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 143; and antisense primer, 5′ GGCTTTTGAG AGCACAGTGC 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 144) were derived from nCaIL-13₃₈₃ and were used to isolate a 278-nucleotide fragment, denoted nCaIL-13₂₇₈ and having a coding strand represented by SEQ ID NO: 90. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₂₇₈ was radiolabeled and used to screen the canine PBMC cDNA library under the following hybridization conditions: hybridization took place in 6×SSC, 5×Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 100 μg/ml single stranded DNA, 100 μg/ml tRNA, for 36 hours at 60° C.; the final wash solution was 0.1% SDS, 0.125×SSC at 60° C. for 30 minutes. Two clones were selected, namely clone 80 and clone 78.

[0231] Sequence analysis of Clone 80 indicated that the clone includes an about 1302-nucleotide canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecule referred to herein as nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, the coding strand of which was shown to have nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 91. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 91 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 93. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 91 suggests that nucleic acid molecule n nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ encodes an IL-13 protein of 131 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-13₁₃₁, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 92, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 52 through nucleotide 54 of SEQ ID NO: 91 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 445 through nucleotide 447 of SEQ ID NO: 91. The coding region encoding PCaIL-13₁₃₁, not including the termination codon, is presented herein as nCaIL-13₃₉₃, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 94 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 95 (the complementary strand).

[0232] A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 52 to nucleotide 111 of SEQ ID NO: 91. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PCaIL-13₁₁₁, represented by SEQ ID NO: 97, contains 111 amino acids, extending from residue 21 through residue 131 of SEQ ID NO: 91. The nucleotide sequence encoding PCaIL13₁₁₁, which extends from nucleotide 112 through nucleotide 444 of SEQ ID NO: 91, is denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₃₃₃, represented by SEQ ID NO: 96 (coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 98 (the complement strand).

[0233] Sequence analysis of Clone 78 indicated that the clone includes an about 1269-nucleotide canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecule referred to herein as nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, the coding strand of which was shown to have nucleic acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 99. The reverse complement of SEQ ID NO: 99 is referred to herein as SEQ ID NO: 101. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 99 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉ encodes an IL-13 protein of 130 amino acids, denoted herein as PCaIL-13₁₃₀, the amino acid sequence of which is presented in SEQ ID NO: 100, assuming an open reading frame having an initiation codon spanning from nucleotide 57 through nucleotide 59 of SEQ ID NO: 99 and a stop codon spanning from nucleotide 447 through nucleotide 449 of SEQ ID NO: 99. The coding region encoding PCaIL-13₁₃₀, not including the termination codon, is represented herein as nCaIL-13₃₉₀, which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 102 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 103 (the complementary strand). PCaIL-13₁₃₀ is missing one amino acid compared to PCaIL-13₁₃₃, namely amino acid position Q97 of PCaIL-13₁₃₃.

[0234] A putative signal sequence coding region extends from nucleotide 57 to nucleotide 116 of SEQ ID NO: 99. The proposed mature protein, denoted herein as PCaIL-13₁₁₀, represented by SEQ ID NO: 105, contains 110 amino acids, extending from residue 21 though residue 130 of SEQ ID NO: 100. The nucleotide sequence encoding PCaIL-13₁₁₀, which extends from nucleotide 117 through nucleotide 446 of SEQ ID NO: 99, is denoted herein as nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₃₃₀, represented by SEQ ID NO: 104 (coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 106 (the complement strand).

[0235] Sequence analysis was performed with DNAsis™ using the alignment settings of: gap penalty set at 5; number of top diagonals set at 5; fixed gap penalty set at 10; k-tuple set at 2; window size set at 5 and floating gap penalty set at 10. At the amino acid level, PCaIL-13₁₃₁ shared 61.7%, 39.6%, 36.6% identity with the IL-13 proteins of human, mouse, and rat (Brown et al., J. Immunol., vol. 142, pp. 679-687, 1989; Lakkis et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., Vol. 197, pp. 612-618, 1993; McKenzie et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 90, pp. 3735-3739, 1993; Minty et al., Nature, vol. 362, pp. 248-250, 1993), respectively. At the nucleotide level, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ shared 56.0%, 57.1%, and 45.9% identity with the sequences of human, rat, and mouse IL-13 cDNAs, respectively.

[0236] B. Expression of Canine IL-13 in E. coli

[0237] This example describes the expression in E. coli of a canine IL-13 cDNA fragment, namely a canine IL-13 nucleic acid molecule denoted nCaIL-13₃₃₆, the coding strand of which consists of nucleotides 112-447 of SEQ ID NO: 91, and as such, encodes a predicted mature canine IL-13 protein having SEQ ID NO: 97. Nucleic acid molecule nCaIL-13₃₃₆ was PCR amplified from nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂ using sense primer 5′ CCCCATATGA GCCCTGTGAC TCCCTCCCC 3′ denoted herein as SEQ ID: 145, with nucleotides 10-29 corresponding to nucleotides 112-1131 of SEQ ID NO: 91; and antisense primer 5′ GGGGAATTCT CATCTGAAAT TTCCATGGCG 3′, denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 146, with nucleotides 10-30 corresponding to the reverse complement of nucleotides 427-447 of SEQ ID NO: 91. To facilitate cloning, an NdeI site (shown in bold) was added to the sense primer and an EcoRI site (shown in bold) was added to the antisense primer. The resulting PCR fragment was digested with restriction endonucleases NdeI and EcoRI, gel purified and ligated into λcro plasmid vector, the production of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,603 by Tripp et al., issued Oct. 29, 1996, that had been digested by NdeI and EcoRI and gel purified to produce recombinant molecule pλcro-nCaIL-13₃₃₆. The insert in the recombinant molecule was verified by DNA sequencing. Recombinant molecule pλcro-nCaIL-13₃₃₆ was used to transform E. coli strain HCE101 (BL21), thereby producing BL21-pλcro-nCaIL-13₃₃₆. PCaIL-13₁₁₁ was produced under conditions as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,603, ibid., protein expression being induced by switching the fermentation temperature from 32° C. to 42° C. SDS-PAGE and Commassie blue staining analysis indicated that a band of about 11 kD was only produced by induced BL21-pλcro-nCaIL-13₃₃₆ recombinant cells. The 11-kD band showed a positive reaction with a rabbit polyclonal antibody against human IL-13 (available from PeproTech Inc, Rocky Hill, N.J.), indicating expression of canine IL-13 in E. coli.

Example 7

[0238] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of feline interferon alpha nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention.

[0239] Feline IFN-alpha nucleic acid molecules were PCR amplified from a feline cDNA library as follows. Total RNA was isolated from cat (kitten) mesenteric lymph node cells stimulated with PMA (phorbol myristate acetate) for 48 hours using Tri Reagent™ (available from Molecular Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio). cDNA was made from the RNA using the cDNA synthesis kit containing Ready to Go—You Prime First-Strand Beads™ (available from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.). An aliquot of this cDNA was used as a template to isolate a feline IFN-alpha nucleic acid molecule by PCR amplification using Amplitaq DNA polymerase™ (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc, Foster City, Calif.) and the following primers and conditions. The sequence of the forward primer was 5′ATGGCGCTGC CCTCTTCCTT CTTG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 143), and that of the reverse primer was 5′ TCATTTCTCG CTCCTTAATC TTTTCTGC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 148). The following PCR protocol was used: one initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 5 minutes; then 43 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 45 seconds, then 47° C. for 45 seconds, then 72° C. for 120 seconds; followed by a final extension at 72° C. for 7 minutes. PCR products were cloned into the TA cloning vector (available from Invitrogen Corporation) and the clones were sequenced using an ABI Prism™ Model 377 Automatic DNA Sequencer (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc.). DNA sequencing reactions were performed using Prism™ dRhodamine Terminator Cycle Sequencing Ready Reaction kits (available from PE Applied Biosystems Inc.).

[0240] Two PCR products were generated and sequenced. Both contained 570 nucleotides (including the termination codons), and are distinguished as Clone #2 and Clone #3 as there were differences in the sequences of the clones.

[0241] Clone #2 includes a feline IFN-alpha nucleic acid molecule that is represented herein as nFeIFNα_(567a), the coding strand of which was shown to have a nucleic acid sequence denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 107. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 107 is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 109. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 107 suggests that nFeIFNα_(567a) encodes a protein containing 189 amino acids, referred to herein as PFeINFα_(189a), with an amino acid sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 108. The open reading frame of SEQ ID NO: 107 is assumed to be the following: the first codon spans from nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 3 and the last codon before the stop codon spans from nucleotide 565 to nucleotide 567 of SEQ ID NO: 107. The encoded protein has a predicted molecular weight of 21 kDa. The putative signal peptide cleavage site occurs between amino acid positions 23 and 24, based on homology with the human and canine interferon-alpha proteins. The proposed mature protein (i.e. feline IFNα protein from which the signal sequence has been cleaved), denoted herein as PFeIFNα_(166a), contains about 166 amino acids, extending from residue 24 to residue 166 of SEQ ID NO: 108; the amino acid sequence is denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 114. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PFeIFNα_(166a) is denoted herein as nFeIFNα_(498a), which is represented by SEQ ID NO: 113, with a complementary sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 115. A putative N-glycosylation site and an interferon alpha-beta-delta family signature motif are present at amino acid positions 102 and 145, respectively, of PfeIFNα_(189a).

[0242] Clone #3 includes a feline IFN-alpha nucleic acid molecule that is represented herein as nFeIFNα_(567b), the coding strand of which was shown to have a nucleic acid sequence denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 110. The complement of SEQ ID NO: 110 is represented herein by SEQ ID NO: 112. Translation of SEQ ID NO: 110 suggests that nFeIFNα_(567b) encodes a protein containing 189 amino acids, referred to herein as PFeIFNα_(189b), with an amino acid sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 111. The open reading frame of SEQ ID NO: 110 is assumed to be the following: the first codon spans from nucleotide 1 through nucleotide 3 and the last codon before the stop codon spans from nucleotide 565 through nucleotide 567 of SEQ ID NO: 110. The encoded protein has a predicted molecular weight of 21 kDa. The putative signal peptide cleavage site occurs between amino acid positions 23 and 24, based on homology with the human and canine interferon-alpha proteins. The proposed mature protein (i.e. feline IFNα protein from which the signal sequence has been cleaved), denoted herein as PFeIFNα_(166b), contains about 166 amino acids, extending from residue 24 to residue 166 of SEQ ID NO: 111; the amino acid sequence is denoted herein as SEQ ID NO: 117. The nucleic acid molecule encoding PFeIFNα_(166b) is denoted herein as nFeIFNα_(498b), which is represented by SEQ ID NO: 116, with a complementary sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 118. A putative N-glycosylation site and an interferon alpha-beta-delta family signature motif are present at amino acid positions 102 and 145, respectively, of PFeIFNα_(189b).

[0243] The differences between the proteins encoded by SEQ ID NO: 107 and SEQ ID NO: 110 are detailed as follows: The amino acid residues at position 56 in SEQ ID NO: 108 (i.e., the protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 107) and at position 56 in SEQ ID NO: 111 (i.e., the protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 110) are both arginines, although the corresponding codons in SEQ ID NO: 107 and SEQ ID NO: 110 are AGA and AGG, respectively. The amino acid residues at position 74 in SEQ ID NO: 108 and at position 74 in SEQ ID NO: 111 are both alanines, although the corresponding codons in SEQ ID NO: 107 and SEQ ID NO: 110 are GCC and GCT, respectively. The amino acid residue at position 86 in SEQ ID NO: 108 is lysine, encoded by AAG in SEQ ID NO: 107, whereas the amino acid residue at position 86 in SEQ ID NO: 111 is glutamic acid, encoded by GAG in SEQ ID NO: 110. The amino acid residue at position 125 in SEQ ID NO: 108 is methionine, encoded by CTG in SEQ ID NO: 107, whereas the amino acid residue at position 125 in SEQ ID NO: 111 is valine, encoded by GTG in SEQ ID NO: 110. The amino acid residue at position 141 in SEQ ID NO: 108 is isovaline, encoded by ATC in SEQ ID NO: 107, whereas the amino acid residue at position 141 in SEQ ID NO: 111 is leucine, encoded by CTC in SEQ ED NO: 110.

[0244] Feline IFN-alpha proteins of the present invention PFeIFNα_(189a) and PfeIFNα_(189b) are five amino acids shorter than the GenBank entry for feline IFN-alpha, accession # E02521. In addition, there are 3 non-conservative and 2 conservative changes at the amino acid level between this GenBank entry and SEQ ID NO: 108 (PFeIFNα_(189a)) as well as 4 non-conservative and 3 conservative changes at the amino acid level between this GenBank entry and SEQ ID NO: 111 (PfeIFNα_(189b)). The lengths of SEQ ID NO: 108 and SEQ ID NO: 111, when compared with those of IFN-alpha proteins of other species, are two amino acids longer than published canine interferon-alpha subtype 1, 2 and 3 sequences, two amino acids longer than published human interferon-alpha type 1,B,D, F, and J sequences, three amino acids longer than the published human interferon-alpha sequence type A sequence and two amino acids longer than published murine interferon-alpha type B, 8, 7, 11, and 19 sequences.

Example 8

[0245] This example describes the isolation and sequencing of feline granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF) nucleic acid molecules and proteins of the present invention. This example also describes expression of a feline GMCSF protein of the present invention.

[0246] Nucleic acid molecules encoding feline GMCSF were isolated as follows. A cDNA library was prepared from feline PBMCs stimulated with Con A for 12 hours, as previously described in Example 2. An aliquot of this library was used as a template to amplify feline GMCSF nucleic acid molecules by PCR using Amplitaq DNA polymerase ™ (PE Applied Biosystems Inc, Foster City, Calif.) and the following primers and conditions The sequence of the forward primer was 5′CAGGGATCCA CCATGTGGCT GCAGAACCTG CTTTTCC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 149), and that of the reverse primer was 5′ TTACTTCTGG TCTGGTCCCC AGCAGTCAAA GGGGTTGTTA AACAGAAAAT 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 150). The following PCR protocol was used: one initial denaturation step at 95° C. for 5 minutes; then 35 cycles of the following: 94° C. for 30 seconds, then 50° C. for 30 seconds, then 72° C. for 90 seconds; followed by a final extension at 72° C. for 7 minutes. PCR products were cloned into the CMV-Intron A vector and the clones were sequenced as described in Example 7.

[0247] A PCR product was isolated, referred to herein as nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, the coding strand of which is represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 119, and its complement is denoted SEQ ID NO: 121. Translation of the open reading frame in SEQ ID NO: 119 suggests that nucleic acid molecule nFeGMCSF₄₄₄ encodes a protein containing 144 amino acids, referred to herein as PFeGMCSF₁₄₄, with an amino acid sequence denoted SEQ ID NO: 120, assuming an open reading frame in which the first codon spans from nucleotide 10 through nucleotide 12 of SEQ ID NO: 119, and the stop codon spans from nucleotide 442 through nucleotide 444 of SEQ ID NO: 121. The encoded protein has a predicted molecular weight of 16 kDa. The coding region encoding PFeGMCSF₁₄₄ is presented herein as nFeGMCSF₄₃₂ which has the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 122 (the coding strand) and SEQ ID NO: 123 (the complementary strand). A putative signal peptide cleavage site is between amino acid positions 17 and 18, based on homology with human, mouse and ovine GMCSF proteins. The nucleic acid molecule encoding the proposed mature protein is denoted as nFeGMCSF₃₈₁ and has a nucleotide sequence represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 124 and a complementary sequence represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 126. The amino acid sequence of the putative mature protein, referred to herein as PFeGMCSF₁₂₇, has an amino acid sequence represented herein as SEQ ID NO: 125. The number of amino acids in the feline GMCSF protein is the same compared to human, porcine, ovine and canine GMCSF proteins. The feline GMCSF protein is one amino acid longer than bovine GMCSF and three amino acid longer than murine GMCSF.

[0248] The deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length feline GMCSF protein of the present invention has four non-conservative changes and one conservative change compared to a GenBank entry for feline GMCSF (accession # AF053007). Amino acids asparagine, methionine, threonine, and lysine at positions 10, 36, 56 and 126 of the GenBank entry have been changed to glycine, isoluecine, alanine and asparagine, respectively, in PfeGMCSF₁₄₄. PFeGMCSF₁₄₄, containing the above-noted amino acid substitutions, appears to have GMCSF activity, as demonstrated by an experiment in which supernatant collected from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells that were transiently transfected with a recombinant molecule encoding a feline GMCSF protein of the present invention was able to induce proliferation of TF-1 cells.

[0249] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and adaptations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood, however, that such modifications and adaptations are within the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.

1 154 1 549 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (43)..(438) 1 ggcacgaggt ctgctattgt cactgcaaat agagatctat ta atg ggt ctc acc 54 Met Gly Leu Thr 1 tcc caa ctg att cca act ctg gtc tgc tta cta gca ctc acc agc acc 102 Ser Gln Leu Ile Pro Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Leu Ala Leu Thr Ser Thr 5 10 15 20 ttt gtc cac gga cat aac ttc aat att act att aaa gag atc atc aaa 150 Phe Val His Gly His Asn Phe Asn Ile Thr Ile Lys Glu Ile Ile Lys 25 30 35 atg ttg aac atc ctc aca gcg aga aac gac tcg tgc atg gag ctg act 198 Met Leu Asn Ile Leu Thr Ala Arg Asn Asp Ser Cys Met Glu Leu Thr 40 45 50 gtc aag gac gtc ttc act gct cca aag aac aca agc gat aag gaa atc 246 Val Lys Asp Val Phe Thr Ala Pro Lys Asn Thr Ser Asp Lys Glu Ile 55 60 65 ttc tgc aga gct gct act gta ctg cgg cag atc tat aca cac aac tgc 294 Phe Cys Arg Ala Ala Thr Val Leu Arg Gln Ile Tyr Thr His Asn Cys 70 75 80 tcc aac aga tat ctc aga gga ctc tac agg aac ctc agc agc atg gca 342 Ser Asn Arg Tyr Leu Arg Gly Leu Tyr Arg Asn Leu Ser Ser Met Ala 85 90 95 100 aac aag acc tgt tct atg aat gaa atc aag aag agt aca ctg aaa gac 390 Asn Lys Thr Cys Ser Met Asn Glu Ile Lys Lys Ser Thr Leu Lys Asp 105 110 115 ttc ttg gaa agg cta aaa gtg atc atg cag aag aaa tac tac agg cat 438 Phe Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Val Ile Met Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Arg His 120 125 130 tgaagctgaa tattttaatt tatgagtttt taaatagctt tattttaaaa atatttatat 498 atttataaca taataaaata aaatatatat agaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 549 2 132 PRT Canis familiaris 2 Met Gly Leu Thr Ser Gln Leu Ile Pro Thr Leu Val Cys Leu Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Thr Ser Thr Phe Val His Gly His Asn Phe Asn Ile Thr Ile Lys 20 25 30 Glu Ile Ile Lys Met Leu Asn Ile Leu Thr Ala Arg Asn Asp Ser Cys 35 40 45 Met Glu Leu Thr Val Lys Asp Val Phe Thr Ala Pro Lys Asn Thr Ser 50 55 60 Asp Lys Glu Ile Phe Cys Arg Ala Ala Thr Val Leu Arg Gln Ile Tyr 65 70 75 80 Thr His Asn Cys Ser Asn Arg Tyr Leu Arg Gly Leu Tyr Arg Asn Leu 85 90 95 Ser Ser Met Ala Asn Lys Thr Cys Ser Met Asn Glu Ile Lys Lys Ser 100 105 110 Thr Leu Lys Asp Phe Leu Glu Arg Leu Lys Val Ile Met Gln Lys Lys 115 120 125 Tyr Tyr Arg His 130 3 549 DNA Canis familiaris 3 tttttttttt tttttttttc tatatatatt ttattttatt atgttataaa tatataaata 60 tttttaaaat aaagctattt aaaaactcat aaattaaaat attcagcttc aatgcctgta 120 gtatttcttc tgcatgatca cttttagcct ttccaagaag tctttcagtg tactcttctt 180 gatttcattc atagaacagg tcttgtttgc catgctgctg aggttcctgt agagtcctct 240 gagatatctg ttggagcagt tgtgtgtata gatctgccgc agtacagtag cagctctgca 300 gaagatttcc ttatcgcttg tgttctttgg agcagtgaag acgtccttga cagtcagctc 360 catgcacgag tcgtttctcg ctgtgaggat gttcaacatt ttgatgatct ctttaatagt 420 aatattgaag ttatgtccgt ggacaaaggt gctggtgagt gctagtaagc agaccagagt 480 tggaatcagt tgggaggtga gacccattaa tagatctcta tttgcagtga caatagcaga 540 cctcgtgcc 549 4 396 DNA Canis familiaris 4 atgggtctca cctcccaact gattccaact ctggtctgct tactagcact caccagcacc 60 tttgtccacg gacataactt caatattact attaaagaga tcatcaaaat gttgaacatc 120 ctcacagcga gaaacgactc gtgcatggag ctgactgtca aggacgtctt cactgctcca 180 aagaacacaa gcgataagga aatcttctgc agagctgcta ctgtactgcg gcagatctat 240 acacacaact gctccaacag atatctcaga ggactctaca ggaacctcag cagcatggca 300 aacaagacct gttctatgaa tgaaatcaag aagagtacac tgaaagactt cttggaaagg 360 ctaaaagtga tcatgcagaa gaaatactac aggcat 396 5 396 DNA Canis familiaris 5 atgcctgtag tatttcttct gcatgatcac ttttagcctt tccaagaagt ctttcagtgt 60 actcttcttg atttcattca tagaacaggt cttgtttgcc atgctgctga ggttcctgta 120 gagtcctctg agatatctgt tggagcagtt gtgtgtatag atctgccgca gtacagtagc 180 agctctgcag aagatttcct tatcgcttgt gttctttgga gcagtgaaga cgtccttgac 240 agtcagctcc atgcacgagt cgtttctcgc tgtgaggatg ttcaacattt tgatgatctc 300 tttaatagta atattgaagt tatgtccgtg gacaaaggtg ctggtgagtg ctagtaagca 360 gaccagagtt ggaatcagtt gggaggtgag acccat 396 6 1013 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (35)..(916) 6 atctgaccat aggcatgagg ggcctccggc cgag atg ata gtg ctg gcg cca gcc 55 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala 1 5 tgg agc cca act gcc tcc ctg ttg ctg ctg ctg ctg ctc agc ccc ggc 103 Trp Ser Pro Thr Ala Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly 10 15 20 ctc cgc ggg acc ccc gac tgc tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc 151 Leu Arg Gly Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser 25 30 35 acc ttc gcg gtc acc atc cgc aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gac 199 Thr Phe Ala Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp 40 45 50 55 tat cca gtc act gtc gcc tcc aac ctg cag gac gac gag ctc tgc ggg 247 Tyr Pro Val Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly 60 65 70 gcg ttc tgg cgc ctg gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg gtg cgg ctc cag 295 Ala Phe Trp Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln 75 80 85 gct gtg gct gga tcc caa atg caa atc ctg ctg gag gct gtc aac acg 343 Ala Val Ala Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr 90 95 100 gag ata cac ttt gtc acc ttc tgt gcc ttc cag ccc ctc ccc agc tgt 391 Glu Ile His Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys 105 110 115 ctt cgc ttc gtc cag acc aac atc tcc cac ctc ctg cag gac acc tcc 439 Leu Arg Phe Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser 120 125 130 135 cag cag ctg gcc gcc ctg aag ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcc 487 Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser 140 145 150 ggg tgc ctg gag ctg cag tgt cag ccc gac tcc tct aca ttg gtg ccc 535 Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro 155 160 165 cca agg agc ccc ggg gcc ctg gag gcc act gcc ttg cca gcc cct cag 583 Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln 170 175 180 gca cct cgg ctg ctc ctc ctg ctg ctg ctg ccc gtg gct ctc ctg ctg 631 Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu 185 190 195 atg tcc act gcc tgg tgc ctg cat tgg cga agg agg cgg cgg cgg agg 679 Met Ser Thr Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg 200 205 210 215 tca ccc tac cct ggg gag cag agg aca ctg agg ccc agc gag cgg agc 727 Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser 220 225 230 cat ctg ccc gag gac aca gag ctg gga cct gga ggg agt cag cta gag 775 His Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu 235 240 245 act ggt ccc ttc ctc gac cac gca gcc ccg ctc gct ccc tcc cca gga 823 Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly 250 255 260 tca agg caa cgc ccg ccc cca acg ccc cca aag cca gcc cca gcc cca 871 Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro 265 270 275 cct ctc ccc ctc tgt aca aag tcc ttg ccc cca aga aat tgt ata 916 Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 280 285 290 taaatcatcc ttttctacca aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 976 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 1013 7 294 PRT Canis familiaris 7 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Ala Ser Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly Leu Arg Gly Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe 20 25 30 Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu 35 40 45 Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu 50 55 60 Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln 65 70 75 80 Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile 85 90 95 Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala 100 105 110 Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser 115 120 125 His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp 130 135 140 Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro 145 150 155 160 Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Ala 165 170 175 Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu 180 185 190 Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp 195 200 205 Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Glu Gln Arg Thr 210 215 220 Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu Leu Gly 225 230 235 240 Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala 245 250 255 Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro 260 265 270 Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu 275 280 285 Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 290 8 1013 DNA Canis familiaris 8 tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt 60 tttttttttt ttttttttgg tagaaaagga tgatttatat acaatttctt gggggcaagg 120 actttgtaca gagggggaga ggtggggctg gggctggctt tgggggcgtt gggggcgggc 180 gttgccttga tcctggggag ggagcgagcg gggctgcgtg gtcgaggaag ggaccagtct 240 ctagctgact ccctccaggt cccagctctg tgtcctcggg cagatggctc cgctcgctgg 300 gcctcagtgt cctctgctcc ccagggtagg gtgacctccg ccgccgcctc cttcgccaat 360 gcaggcacca ggcagtggac atcagcagga gagccacggg cagcagcagc aggaggagca 420 gccgaggtgc ctgaggggct ggcaaggcag tggcctccag ggccccgggg ctccttgggg 480 gcaccaatgt agaggagtcg ggctgacact gcagctccag gcacccggag aaattcctgc 540 gggtgatcca gggcttcagg gcggccagct gctgggaggt gtcctgcagg aggtgggaga 600 tgttggtctg gacgaagcga agacagctgg ggaggggctg gaaggcacag aaggtgacaa 660 agtgtatctc cgtgttgaca gcctccagca ggatttgcat ttgggatcca gccacagcct 720 ggagccgcac catccagcgc tgggccagga ccaggcgcca gaacgccccg cagagctcgt 780 cgtcctgcag gttggaggcg acagtgactg gatagtcctg aagcaggtaa tcagacagct 840 tgcggatggt gaccgcgaag gtggaggaga tggggctgtg gctgaaggag cagtcggggg 900 tcccgcggag gccggggctg agcagcagca gcagcaacag ggaggcagtt gggctccagg 960 ctggcgccag cactatcatc tcggccggag gcccctcatg cctatggtca gat 1013 9 882 DNA Canis familiaris 9 atgatagtgc tggcgccagc ctggagccca actgcctccc tgttgctgct gctgctgctc 60 agccccggcc tccgcgggac ccccgactgc tccttcagcc acagccccat ctcctccacc 120 ttcgcggtca ccatccgcaa gctgtctgat tacctgcttc aggactatcc agtcactgtc 180 gcctccaacc tgcaggacga cgagctctgc ggggcgttct ggcgcctggt cctggcccag 240 cgctggatgg tgcggctcca ggctgtggct ggatcccaaa tgcaaatcct gctggaggct 300 gtcaacacgg agatacactt tgtcaccttc tgtgccttcc agcccctccc cagctgtctt 360 cgcttcgtcc agaccaacat ctcccacctc ctgcaggaca cctcccagca gctggccgcc 420 ctgaagccct ggatcacccg caggaatttc tccgggtgcc tggagctgca gtgtcagccc 480 gactcctcta cattggtgcc cccaaggagc cccggggccc tggaggccac tgccttgcca 540 gcccctcagg cacctcggct gctcctcctg ctgctgctgc ccgtggctct cctgctgatg 600 tccactgcct ggtgcctgca ttggcgaagg aggcggcggc ggaggtcacc ctaccctggg 660 gagcagagga cactgaggcc cagcgagcgg agccatctgc ccgaggacac agagctggga 720 cctggaggga gtcagctaga gactggtccc ttcctcgacc acgcagcccc gctcgctccc 780 tccccaggat caaggcaacg cccgccccca acgcccccaa agccagcccc agccccacct 840 ctccccctct gtacaaagtc cttgccccca agaaattgta ta 882 10 882 DNA Canis familiaris 10 tatacaattt cttgggggca aggactttgt acagaggggg agaggtgggg ctggggctgg 60 ctttgggggc gttgggggcg ggcgttgcct tgatcctggg gagggagcga gcggggctgc 120 gtggtcgagg aagggaccag tctctagctg actccctcca ggtcccagct ctgtgtcctc 180 gggcagatgg ctccgctcgc tgggcctcag tgtcctctgc tccccagggt agggtgacct 240 ccgccgccgc ctccttcgcc aatgcaggca ccaggcagtg gacatcagca ggagagccac 300 gggcagcagc agcaggagga gcagccgagg tgcctgaggg gctggcaagg cagtggcctc 360 cagggccccg gggctccttg ggggcaccaa tgtagaggag tcgggctgac actgcagctc 420 caggcacccg gagaaattcc tgcgggtgat ccagggcttc agggcggcca gctgctggga 480 ggtgtcctgc aggaggtggg agatgttggt ctggacgaag cgaagacagc tggggagggg 540 ctggaaggca cagaaggtga caaagtgtat ctccgtgttg acagcctcca gcaggatttg 600 catttgggat ccagccacag cctggagccg caccatccag cgctgggcca ggaccaggcg 660 ccagaacgcc ccgcagagct cgtcgtcctg caggttggag gcgacagtga ctggatagtc 720 ctgaagcagg taatcagaca gcttgcggat ggtgaccgcg aaggtggagg agatggggct 780 gtggctgaag gagcagtcgg gggtcccgcg gaggccgggg ctgagcagca gcagcagcaa 840 cagggaggca gttgggctcc aggctggcgc cagcactatc at 882 11 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 11 ctattaatgg gtctcacctc ccaact 26 12 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 12 tcaactcggt gcacagagtc ttgg 24 13 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 13 ctggcgccag cctggagccc 20 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 14 gggagatgtt ggtctggacg 20 15 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 15 gaccaggcgc cagaacgc 18 16 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 16 cggtcaccat ccgcaagc 18 17 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 17 tggcaaggca gtggcctc 18 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 18 gccgagatga tagtgctggc 20 19 324 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(324) 19 cat aac ttc aat att act att aaa gag atc atc aaa atg ttg aac atc 48 His Asn Phe Asn Ile Thr Ile Lys Glu Ile Ile Lys Met Leu Asn Ile 1 5 10 15 ctc aca gcg aga aac gac tcg tgc atg gag ctg act gtc aag gac gtc 96 Leu Thr Ala Arg Asn Asp Ser Cys Met Glu Leu Thr Val Lys Asp Val 20 25 30 ttc act gct cca aag aac aca agc gat aag gaa atc ttc tgc aga gct 144 Phe Thr Ala Pro Lys Asn Thr Ser Asp Lys Glu Ile Phe Cys Arg Ala 35 40 45 gct act gta ctg cgg cag atc tat aca cac aac tgc tcc aac aga tat 192 Ala Thr Val Leu Arg Gln Ile Tyr Thr His Asn Cys Ser Asn Arg Tyr 50 55 60 ctc aga gga ctc tac agg aac ctc agc agc atg gca aac aag acc tgt 240 Leu Arg Gly Leu Tyr Arg Asn Leu Ser Ser Met Ala Asn Lys Thr Cys 65 70 75 80 tct atg aat gaa atc aag aag agt aca ctg aaa gac ttc ttg gaa agg 288 Ser Met Asn Glu Ile Lys Lys Ser Thr Leu Lys Asp Phe Leu Glu Arg 85 90 95 cta aaa gtg atc atg cag aag aaa tac tac agg cat 324 Leu Lys Val Ile Met Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Arg His 100 105 20 108 PRT Canis familiaris 20 His Asn Phe Asn Ile Thr Ile Lys Glu Ile Ile Lys Met Leu Asn Ile 1 5 10 15 Leu Thr Ala Arg Asn Asp Ser Cys Met Glu Leu Thr Val Lys Asp Val 20 25 30 Phe Thr Ala Pro Lys Asn Thr Ser Asp Lys Glu Ile Phe Cys Arg Ala 35 40 45 Ala Thr Val Leu Arg Gln Ile Tyr Thr His Asn Cys Ser Asn Arg Tyr 50 55 60 Leu Arg Gly Leu Tyr Arg Asn Leu Ser Ser Met Ala Asn Lys Thr Cys 65 70 75 80 Ser Met Asn Glu Ile Lys Lys Ser Thr Leu Lys Asp Phe Leu Glu Arg 85 90 95 Leu Lys Val Ile Met Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Arg His 100 105 21 324 DNA Canis familiaris 21 atgcctgtag tatttcttct gcatgatcac ttttagcctt tccaagaagt ctttcagtgt 60 actcttcttg atttcattca tagaacaggt cttgtttgcc atgctgctga ggttcctgta 120 gagtcctctg agatatctgt tggagcagtt gtgtgtatag atctgccgca gtacagtagc 180 agctctgcag aagatttcct tatcgcttgt gttctttgga gcagtgaaga cgtccttgac 240 agtcagctcc atgcacgagt cgtttctcgc tgtgaggatg ttcaacattt tgatgatctc 300 tttaatagta atattgaagt tatg 324 22 804 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(804) 22 acc ccc gac tgc tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc acc ttc gcg 48 Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 gtc acc atc cgc aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gac tat cca gtc 96 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 act gtc gcc tcc aac ctg cag gac gac gag ctc tgc ggg gcg ttc tgg 144 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp 35 40 45 cgc ctg gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg gtg cgg ctc cag gct gtg gct 192 Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 gga tcc caa atg caa atc ctg ctg gag gct gtc aac acg gag ata cac 240 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 ttt gtc acc ttc tgt gcc ttc cag ccc ctc ccc agc tgt ctt cgc ttc 288 Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe 85 90 95 gtc cag acc aac atc tcc cac ctc ctg cag gac acc tcc cag cag ctg 336 Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu 100 105 110 gcc gcc ctg aag ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcc ggg tgc ctg 384 Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu 115 120 125 gag ctg cag tgt cag ccc gac tcc tct aca ttg gtg ccc cca agg agc 432 Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser 130 135 140 ccc ggg gcc ctg gag gcc act gcc ttg cca gcc cct cag gca cct cgg 480 Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg 145 150 155 160 ctg ctc ctc ctg ctg ctg ctg ccc gtg gct ctc ctg ctg atg tcc act 528 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr 165 170 175 gcc tgg tgc ctg cat tgg cga agg agg cgg cgg cgg agg tca ccc tac 576 Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr 180 185 190 cct ggg gag cag agg aca ctg agg ccc agc gag cgg agc cat ctg ccc 624 Pro Gly Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro 195 200 205 gag gac aca gag ctg gga cct gga ggg agt cag cta gag act ggt ccc 672 Glu Asp Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro 210 215 220 ttc ctc gac cac gca gcc ccg ctc gct ccc tcc cca gga tca agg caa 720 Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln 225 230 235 240 cgc ccg ccc cca acg ccc cca aag cca gcc cca gcc cca cct ctc ccc 768 Arg Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro 245 250 255 ctc tgt aca aag tcc ttg ccc cca aga aat tgt ata 804 Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 260 265 23 268 PRT Canis familiaris 23 Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp 35 40 45 Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe 85 90 95 Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu 100 105 110 Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu 115 120 125 Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser 130 135 140 Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg 145 150 155 160 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr 165 170 175 Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr 180 185 190 Pro Gly Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro 195 200 205 Glu Asp Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro 210 215 220 Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln 225 230 235 240 Arg Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro 245 250 255 Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 260 265 24 804 DNA Canis familiaris 24 tatacaattt cttgggggca aggactttgt acagaggggg agaggtgggg ctggggctgg 60 ctttgggggc gttgggggcg ggcgttgcct tgatcctggg gagggagcga gcggggctgc 120 gtggtcgagg aagggaccag tctctagctg actccctcca ggtcccagct ctgtgtcctc 180 gggcagatgg ctccgctcgc tgggcctcag tgtcctctgc tccccagggt agggtgacct 240 ccgccgccgc ctccttcgcc aatgcaggca ccaggcagtg gacatcagca ggagagccac 300 gggcagcagc agcaggagga gcagccgagg tgcctgaggg gctggcaagg cagtggcctc 360 cagggccccg gggctccttg ggggcaccaa tgtagaggag tcgggctgac actgcagctc 420 caggcacccg gagaaattcc tgcgggtgat ccagggcttc agggcggcca gctgctggga 480 ggtgtcctgc aggaggtggg agatgttggt ctggacgaag cgaagacagc tggggagggg 540 ctggaaggca cagaaggtga caaagtgtat ctccgtgttg acagcctcca gcaggatttg 600 catttgggat ccagccacag cctggagccg caccatccag cgctgggcca ggaccaggcg 660 ccagaacgcc ccgcagagct cgtcgtcctg caggttggag gcgacagtga ctggatagtc 720 ctgaagcagg taatcagaca gcttgcggat ggtgaccgcg aaggtggagg agatggggct 780 gtggctgaag gagcagtcgg gggt 804 25 985 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (74)..(901) 25 ccggcctggc cccttccacg cccagctggg gcaagcctga tctgaccata ggcatgaggg 60 gcctccggcc gag atg ata gtg ctg gcg cca gcc tgg agc cca act gcc 109 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Ala 1 5 10 tcc ctg ttg ctg ctg ctg ctg ctc agc ccc ggc ctc cgc ggg acc ccc 157 Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly Leu Arg Gly Thr Pro 15 20 25 gac tgc tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc acc ttc gcg gtc acc 205 Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala Val Thr 30 35 40 atc cgc aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gac tat cca gtc act gtc 253 Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val Thr Val 45 50 55 60 gcc tcc aac ctg cag gac gac gag ctc tgc ggg gcg ttc tgg cgc ctg 301 Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp Arg Leu 65 70 75 gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg gtg cgg ctc cag gct gtg gct gga tcc 349 Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala Gly Ser 80 85 90 caa atg caa atc ctg ctg gag gct gtc aac acg gag ata cac ttt gtc 397 Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His Phe Val 95 100 105 acc ttc tgt gcc ttc cag gac acc tcc cag cag ctg gcc gcc ctg aag 445 Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys 110 115 120 ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcc ggg tgc ctg gag ctg cag tgt 493 Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys 125 130 135 140 cag ccc gac tcc tct aca ttg gtg ccc cca agg agc ccc ggg gcc ctg 541 Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu 145 150 155 gag gcc act gcc ttg cca gcc cct cag gca cct cgg ctg ctc ctc ctg 589 Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Leu Leu 160 165 170 ctg ctg ctg ccc gtg gct ctc ctg ctg atg tcc act gcc tgg tgc ctg 637 Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr Ala Trp Cys Leu 175 180 185 cat tgg cga agg agg cgg cgg cgg agg tca ccc tac cct ggg gag cag 685 His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Glu Gln 190 195 200 agg aca ctg agg ccc agc gag cgg agc cat ctg ccc gag gac aca gag 733 Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu 205 210 215 220 ctg gga cct gga ggg agt cag cta gag act ggt ccc ttc ctc gac cac 781 Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu Asp His 225 230 235 gca gcc ccg ctc gct ccc tcc cca gga tca agg caa cgc ccg ccc cca 829 Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro Pro Pro 240 245 250 acg ccc cca aag cca gcc cca gcc cca cct ctc ccc ctc tgt aca aag 877 Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys Thr Lys 255 260 265 tcc ttg ccc cca aga aat tgt ata taaatcatcc ttttctacca gcaaaaaaaa 931 Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 270 275 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 985 26 276 PRT Canis familiaris 26 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Ala Ser Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly Leu Arg Gly Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe 20 25 30 Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu 35 40 45 Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu 50 55 60 Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln 65 70 75 80 Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile 85 90 95 Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala 100 105 110 Phe Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr 115 120 125 Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser 130 135 140 Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala 145 150 155 160 Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro 165 170 175 Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg 180 185 190 Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg 195 200 205 Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly 210 215 220 Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu 225 230 235 240 Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys 245 250 255 Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro 260 265 270 Arg Asn Cys Ile 275 27 985 DNA Canis familiaris 27 tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt 60 ttgctggtag aaaaggatga tttatataca atttcttggg ggcaaggact ttgtacagag 120 ggggagaggt ggggctgggg ctggctttgg gggcgttggg ggcgggcgtt gccttgatcc 180 tggggaggga gcgagcgggg ctgcgtggtc gaggaaggga ccagtctcta gctgactccc 240 tccaggtccc agctctgtgt cctcgggcag atggctccgc tcgctgggcc tcagtgtcct 300 ctgctcccca gggtagggtg acctccgccg ccgcctcctt cgccaatgca ggcaccaggc 360 agtggacatc agcaggagag ccacgggcag cagcagcagg aggagcagcc gaggtgcctg 420 aggggctggc aaggcagtgg cctccagggc cccggggctc cttgggggca ccaatgtaga 480 ggagtcgggc tgacactgca gctccaggca cccggagaaa ttcctgcggg tgatccaggg 540 cttcagggcg gccagctgct gggaggtgtc ctggaaggca cagaaggtga caaagtgtat 600 ctccgtgttg acagcctcca gcaggatttg catttgggat ccagccacag cctggagccg 660 caccatccag cgctgggcca ggaccaggcg ccagaacgcc ccgcagagct cgtcgtcctg 720 caggttggag gcgacagtga ctggatagtc ctgaagcagg taatcagaca gcttgcggat 780 ggtgaccgcg aaggtggagg agatggggct gtggctgaag gagcagtcgg gggtcccgcg 840 gaggccgggg ctgagcagca gcagcagcaa cagggaggca gttgggctcc aggctggcgc 900 cagcactatc atctcggccg gaggcccctc atgcctatgg tcagatcagg cttgccccag 960 ctgggcgtgg aaggggccag gccgg 985 28 828 DNA Canis familiaris 28 atgatagtgc tggcgccagc ctggagccca actgcctccc tgttgctgct gctgctgctc 60 agccccggcc tccgcgggac ccccgactgc tccttcagcc acagccccat ctcctccacc 120 ttcgcggtca ccatccgcaa gctgtctgat tacctgcttc aggactatcc agtcactgtc 180 gcctccaacc tgcaggacga cgagctctgc ggggcgttct ggcgcctggt cctggcccag 240 cgctggatgg tgcggctcca ggctgtggct ggatcccaaa tgcaaatcct gctggaggct 300 gtcaacacgg agatacactt tgtcaccttc tgtgccttcc aggacacctc ccagcagctg 360 gccgccctga agccctggat cacccgcagg aatttctccg ggtgcctgga gctgcagtgt 420 cagcccgact cctctacatt ggtgccccca aggagccccg gggccctgga ggccactgcc 480 ttgccagccc ctcaggcacc tcggctgctc ctcctgctgc tgctgcccgt ggctctcctg 540 ctgatgtcca ctgcctggtg cctgcattgg cgaaggaggc ggcggcggag gtcaccctac 600 cctggggagc agaggacact gaggcccagc gagcggagcc atctgcccga ggacacagag 660 ctgggacctg gagggagtca gctagagact ggtcccttcc tcgaccacgc agccccgctc 720 gctccctccc caggatcaag gcaacgcccg cccccaacgc ccccaaagcc agccccagcc 780 ccacctctcc ccctctgtac aaagtccttg cccccaagaa attgtata 828 29 828 DNA Canis familiaris 29 tatacaattt cttgggggca aggactttgt acagaggggg agaggtgggg ctggggctgg 60 ctttgggggc gttgggggcg ggcgttgcct tgatcctggg gagggagcga gcggggctgc 120 gtggtcgagg aagggaccag tctctagctg actccctcca ggtcccagct ctgtgtcctc 180 gggcagatgg ctccgctcgc tgggcctcag tgtcctctgc tccccagggt agggtgacct 240 ccgccgccgc ctccttcgcc aatgcaggca ccaggcagtg gacatcagca ggagagccac 300 gggcagcagc agcaggagga gcagccgagg tgcctgaggg gctggcaagg cagtggcctc 360 cagggccccg gggctccttg ggggcaccaa tgtagaggag tcgggctgac actgcagctc 420 caggcacccg gagaaattcc tgcgggtgat ccagggcttc agggcggcca gctgctggga 480 ggtgtcctgg aaggcacaga aggtgacaaa gtgtatctcc gtgttgacag cctccagcag 540 gatttgcatt tgggatccag ccacagcctg gagccgcacc atccagcgct gggccaggac 600 caggcgccag aacgccccgc agagctcgtc gtcctgcagg ttggaggcga cagtgactgg 660 atagtcctga agcaggtaat cagacagctt gcggatggtg accgcgaagg tggaggagat 720 ggggctgtgg ctgaaggagc agtcgggggt cccgcggagg ccggggctga gcagcagcag 780 cagcaacagg gaggcagttg ggctccaggc tggcgccagc actatcat 828 30 750 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(750) 30 acc ccc gac tgc tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc acc ttc gcg 48 Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 gtc acc atc cgc aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gac tat cca gtc 96 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 act gtc gcc tcc aac ctg cag gac gac gag ctc tgc ggg gcg ttc tgg 144 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp 35 40 45 cgc ctg gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg gtg cgg ctc cag gct gtg gct 192 Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 gga tcc caa atg caa atc ctg ctg gag gct gtc aac acg gag ata cac 240 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 ttt gtc acc ttc tgt gcc ttc cag gac acc tcc cag cag ctg gcc gcc 288 Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala 85 90 95 ctg aag ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcc ggg tgc ctg gag ctg 336 Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu 100 105 110 cag tgt cag ccc gac tcc tct aca ttg gtg ccc cca agg agc ccc ggg 384 Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly 115 120 125 gcc ctg gag gcc act gcc ttg cca gcc cct cag gca cct cgg ctg ctc 432 Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu 130 135 140 ctc ctg ctg ctg ctg ccc gtg gct ctc ctg ctg atg tcc act gcc tgg 480 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr Ala Trp 145 150 155 160 tgc ctg cat tgg cga agg agg cgg cgg cgg agg tca ccc tac cct ggg 528 Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly 165 170 175 gag cag agg aca ctg agg ccc agc gag cgg agc cat ctg ccc gag gac 576 Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro Glu Asp 180 185 190 aca gag ctg gga cct gga ggg agt cag cta gag act ggt ccc ttc ctc 624 Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu 195 200 205 gac cac gca gcc ccg ctc gct ccc tcc cca gga tca agg caa cgc ccg 672 Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro 210 215 220 ccc cca acg ccc cca aag cca gcc cca gcc cca cct ctc ccc ctc tgt 720 Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys 225 230 235 240 aca aag tcc ttg ccc cca aga aat tgt ata 750 Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 245 250 31 250 PRT Canis familiaris 31 Thr Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Ala Phe Trp 35 40 45 Arg Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Val Arg Leu Gln Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ile Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 Phe Val Thr Phe Cys Ala Phe Gln Asp Thr Ser Gln Gln Leu Ala Ala 85 90 95 Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu 100 105 110 Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu Val Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly 115 120 125 Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu 130 135 140 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Thr Ala Trp 145 150 155 160 Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Pro Tyr Pro Gly 165 170 175 Glu Gln Arg Thr Leu Arg Pro Ser Glu Arg Ser His Leu Pro Glu Asp 180 185 190 Thr Glu Leu Gly Pro Gly Gly Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Pro Phe Leu 195 200 205 Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Ala Pro Ser Pro Gly Ser Arg Gln Arg Pro 210 215 220 Pro Pro Thr Pro Pro Lys Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Pro Leu Pro Leu Cys 225 230 235 240 Thr Lys Ser Leu Pro Pro Arg Asn Cys Ile 245 250 32 750 DNA Canis familiaris 32 tatacaattt cttgggggca aggactttgt acagaggggg agaggtgggg ctggggctgg 60 ctttgggggc gttgggggcg ggcgttgcct tgatcctggg gagggagcga gcggggctgc 120 gtggtcgagg aagggaccag tctctagctg actccctcca ggtcccagct ctgtgtcctc 180 gggcagatgg ctccgctcgc tgggcctcag tgtcctctgc tccccagggt agggtgacct 240 ccgccgccgc ctccttcgcc aatgcaggca ccaggcagtg gacatcagca ggagagccac 300 gggcagcagc agcaggagga gcagccgagg tgcctgaggg gctggcaagg cagtggcctc 360 cagggccccg gggctccttg ggggcaccaa tgtagaggag tcgggctgac actgcagctc 420 caggcacccg gagaaattcc tgcgggtgat ccagggcttc agggcggcca gctgctggga 480 ggtgtcctgg aaggcacaga aggtgacaaa gtgtatctcc gtgttgacag cctccagcag 540 gatttgcatt tgggatccag ccacagcctg gagccgcacc atccagcgct gggccaggac 600 caggcgccag aacgccccgc agagctcgtc gtcctgcagg ttggaggcga cagtgactgg 660 atagtcctga agcaggtaat cagacagctt gcggatggtg accgcgaagg tggaggagat 720 ggggctgtgg ctgaaggagc agtcgggggt 750 33 1019 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (74)..(166) 33 ccggcctggc cccttccacg cccagctggg gcaagcctga tctgaccata ggcatgaggg 60 gcctccggcc gag atg ata gtg ctg gcg cca gcc tgg agc cca act gtg 109 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Val 1 5 10 cgt ata ccc ggg gga caa ggc ggg gga cag gca gag cgc tac cga gct 157 Arg Ile Pro Gly Gly Gln Gly Gly Gly Gln Ala Glu Arg Tyr Arg Ala 15 20 25 ggg cag agc tgagagagca gacggacaga ggcctccctg ttgctgctgc 206 Gly Gln Ser 30 tgctgctcag ccccggcctc cgcgggaccc ccgactgctc cttcagccac agccccatct 266 cctccacctt cgcggtcacc atccgcaagc tgtctgatta cctgcttcag gactatccag 326 tcactgtcgc ctccaacctg caggacgacg agctctgcgg ggcgttctgg cgcctggtcc 386 tggcccagcg ctggatggtg cggctccagg ctgtggctgg atcccaaatg caaatcctgc 446 tggaggctgt caacacggag atacactttg tcaccttctg tgccttccag gacacctccc 506 agcagctggc cgccctgaag ccctggatca cccgcaggaa tttctccggg tgcctggagc 566 tgcagtgtca gcccgactcc tctacattgg tgcccccaag gagccccggg gccctggagg 626 ccactgcctt gccagcccct caggcacctc ggctgctcct cctgctgctg ctgcccgtgg 686 ctctcctgct gatgtccact gcctggtgcc tgcattggcg aaggaggcgg cggcggaggt 746 caccctaccc tggggagcag aggacactga ggcccagcga gcggagccat ctgcccgagg 806 acacagagct gggacctgga gggagtcagc tagagactgg tcccttcctc gaccacgcag 866 ccccgctcgc tccctcccca ggatcaaggc aacgcccgcc cccaacgccc ccaaagccag 926 ccccagcccc acctctcccc ctctgtacaa agtccttgcc cccaagaaat tgtatataaa 986 tcatcctttt ctaccaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaa 1019 34 31 PRT Canis familiaris 34 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Val Arg Ile Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Gln Gly Gly Gly Gln Ala Glu Arg Tyr Arg Ala Gly Gln Ser 20 25 30 35 1019 DNA Canis familiaris 35 tttttttttt ttttttttgg tagaaaagga tgatttatat acaatttctt gggggcaagg 60 actttgtaca gagggggaga ggtggggctg gggctggctt tgggggcgtt gggggcgggc 120 gttgccttga tcctggggag ggagcgagcg gggctgcgtg gtcgaggaag ggaccagtct 180 ctagctgact ccctccaggt cccagctctg tgtcctcggg cagatggctc cgctcgctgg 240 gcctcagtgt cctctgctcc ccagggtagg gtgacctccg ccgccgcctc cttcgccaat 300 gcaggcacca ggcagtggac atcagcagga gagccacggg cagcagcagc aggaggagca 360 gccgaggtgc ctgaggggct ggcaaggcag tggcctccag ggccccgggg ctccttgggg 420 gcaccaatgt agaggagtcg ggctgacact gcagctccag gcacccggag aaattcctgc 480 gggtgatcca gggcttcagg gcggccagct gctgggaggt gtcctggaag gcacagaagg 540 tgacaaagtg tatctccgtg ttgacagcct ccagcaggat ttgcatttgg gatccagcca 600 cagcctggag ccgcaccatc cagcgctggg ccaggaccag gcgccagaac gccccgcaga 660 gctcgtcgtc ctgcaggttg gaggcgacag tgactggata gtcctgaagc aggtaatcag 720 acagcttgcg gatggtgacc gcgaaggtgg aggagatggg gctgtggctg aaggagcagt 780 cgggggtccc gcggaggccg gggctgagca gcagcagcag caacagggag gcctctgtcc 840 gtctgctctc tcagctctgc ccagctcggt agcgctctgc ctgtcccccg ccttgtcccc 900 cgggtatacg cacagttggg ctccaggctg gcgccagcac tatcatctcg gccggaggcc 960 cctcatgcct atggtcagat caggcttgcc ccagctgggc gtggaagggg ccaggccgg 1019 36 93 DNA Canis familiaris 36 atgatagtgc tggcgccagc ctggagccca actgtgcgta tacccggggg acaaggcggg 60 ggacaggcag agcgctaccg agctgggcag agc 93 37 93 DNA Canis familiaris 37 gctctgccca gctcggtagc gctctgcctg tcccccgcct tgtcccccgg gtatacgcac 60 agttgggctc caggctggcg ccagcactat cat 93 38 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 38 tgaattcgga cataacttca atattac 27 39 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 39 tctcgagatt cagcttcaat gcctgta 27 40 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 40 cccaagctta tgggtctcac ctcccaac 28 41 395 DNA Felis catus 41 ggccataggc atgaagggcc tccggccgag atgatagtgc tggcgccagc ctggagccca 60 actacctccc tgctgctgct gctactgctc agccctggcc tccgcgggtc ccccgactgt 120 tccttcagcc acagccccat ctcctccacc ttcaaggtca ccatccgaaa gctgtctgat 180 tacctgcttc aggattaccc agtcaccgtc gcctccaacc tacaggacga cgagctctgt 240 gggccattct ggcacctggt cctggcccag cgctggatgg gtcggctcaa ggctgtggct 300 gggtcccaga tgcaaagcct gctggaggcg gtcaacaccg agatacattt tgtcaccttg 360 tgtgccttcc agcccctccc cagctgtctt cgatt 395 42 793 DNA Felis catus 42 cttcaaggtc accatccgaa agctgtctga ttacctgctt caggattacc cagtcaccgt 60 cgcctccaac ctacaggacg acgagctctg tgggccattc tggcacctgg tcctggccca 120 gcgctggatg ggtcggctca aggctgtggc tgggtcccag atgcaaagcc tgctggaggc 180 ggtcaacacc gagatacatt ttgtcacctt gtgtgccttc cagcccctcc ccagctgtct 240 tcgattcgtc cagaccaaca tctcccacct cctgcaggac acctccgagc agctggcggc 300 cttgaagccc tggatcaccc gcaggaattt ctcggggtgc ctggagctac agtgtcagcc 360 cgactcctcc accccactgc ccccaaggag ccccagggcc ttggaggcca cagccctgcc 420 agcccctcag gcccctctgc tgctcctcct gctgctgttg cctgtggctc tcttgctgat 480 gtccgccgcc tggtgcctgc actggcgaag aaggagatgg agaacgccct accccaggga 540 gcagaggaag acactgaggc ccagagagag gaatcacctg cccgaggaca cagagccggg 600 actcggagaa agtcagctag agactggttc cttcctcgac cacgctgccc cgctcactct 660 ccccccggga tggaggcaac gccagccccc aacgccagcc ccagacccac ctatccccct 720 ctgtacaaag tccttgtcct caggaaattg tatataaatc atccttttct accaaaaaaa 780 aaaaaaaaaa aaa 793 43 942 DNA Felis catus CDS (31)..(903) 43 ggccataggc atgaagggcc tccggccgag atg ata gtg ctg gcg cca gcc tgg 54 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp 1 5 agc cca act acc tcc ctg ctg ctg ctg cta ctg ctc agc cct ggc ctc 102 Ser Pro Thr Thr Ser Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly Leu 10 15 20 cgc ggg tcc ccc gac tgt tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc acc 150 Arg Gly Ser Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr 25 30 35 40 ttc aag gtc acc atc cga aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gat tac 198 Phe Lys Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr 45 50 55 cca gtc acc gtc gcc tcc aac cta cag gac gac gag ctc tgt ggg cca 246 Pro Val Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Pro 60 65 70 ttc tgg cac ctg gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg ggt cgg ctc aag gct 294 Phe Trp His Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala 75 80 85 gtg gct ggg tcc cag atg caa agc ctg ctg gag gcg gtc aac acc gag 342 Val Ala Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ser Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu 90 95 100 ata cat ttt gtc acc ttg tgt gcc ttc cag ccc ctc ccc agc tgt ctt 390 Ile His Phe Val Thr Leu Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu 105 110 115 120 cga ttc gtc cag acc aac atc tcc cac ctc ctg cag gac acc tcc gag 438 Arg Phe Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Glu 125 130 135 cag ctg gcg gcc ttg aag ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcg ggg 486 Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly 140 145 150 tgc ctg gag cta cag tgt cag ccc gac tcc tcc acc cca ctg ccc cca 534 Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Pro Leu Pro Pro 155 160 165 agg agc ccc agg gcc ttg gag gcc aca gcc ctg cca gcc cct cag gcc 582 Arg Ser Pro Arg Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala 170 175 180 cct ctg ctg ctc ctc ctg ctg ctg ttg cct gtg gct ctc ttg ctg atg 630 Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met 185 190 195 200 tcc gcc gcc tgg tgc ctg cac tgg cga aga agg aga tgg aga acg ccc 678 Ser Ala Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Trp Arg Thr Pro 205 210 215 tac ccc agg gag cag agg aag aca ctg agg ccc aga gag agg aat cac 726 Tyr Pro Arg Glu Gln Arg Lys Thr Leu Arg Pro Arg Glu Arg Asn His 220 225 230 ctg ccc gag gac aca gag ccg gga ctc gga gaa agt cag cta gag act 774 Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly Leu Gly Glu Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr 235 240 245 ggt tcc ttc ctc gac cac gct gcc ccg ctc act ctc ccc ccg gga tgg 822 Gly Ser Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Trp 250 255 260 agg caa cgc cag ccc cca acg cca gcc cca gac cca cct atc ccc ctc 870 Arg Gln Arg Gln Pro Pro Thr Pro Ala Pro Asp Pro Pro Ile Pro Leu 265 270 275 280 tgt aca aag tcc ttg tcc tca gga aat tgt ata taaatcatcc ttttctacca 923 Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Asn Cys Ile 285 290 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 942 44 291 PRT Felis catus 44 Met Ile Val Leu Ala Pro Ala Trp Ser Pro Thr Thr Ser Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Leu Leu Ser Pro Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe 20 25 30 Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Lys Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu 35 40 45 Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu 50 55 60 Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Pro Phe Trp His Leu Val Leu Ala Gln 65 70 75 80 Arg Trp Met Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Val Ala Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ser 85 90 95 Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His Phe Val Thr Leu Cys Ala 100 105 110 Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser 115 120 125 His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Glu Gln Leu Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp 130 135 140 Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro 145 150 155 160 Asp Ser Ser Thr Pro Leu Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Arg Ala Leu Glu Ala 165 170 175 Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu 180 185 190 Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Ala Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp 195 200 205 Arg Arg Arg Arg Trp Arg Thr Pro Tyr Pro Arg Glu Gln Arg Lys Thr 210 215 220 Leu Arg Pro Arg Glu Arg Asn His Leu Pro Glu Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly 225 230 235 240 Leu Gly Glu Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Ser Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala 245 250 255 Pro Leu Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Trp Arg Gln Arg Gln Pro Pro Thr Pro 260 265 270 Ala Pro Asp Pro Pro Ile Pro Leu Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly 275 280 285 Asn Cys Ile 290 45 942 DNA Felis catus 45 tttttttttt tttttttttt ggtagaaaag gatgatttat atacaatttc ctgaggacaa 60 ggactttgta cagaggggga taggtgggtc tggggctggc gttgggggct ggcgttgcct 120 ccatcccggg gggagagtga gcggggcagc gtggtcgagg aaggaaccag tctctagctg 180 actttctccg agtcccggct ctgtgtcctc gggcaggtga ttcctctctc tgggcctcag 240 tgtcttcctc tgctccctgg ggtagggcgt tctccatctc cttcttcgcc agtgcaggca 300 ccaggcggcg gacatcagca agagagccac aggcaacagc agcaggagga gcagcagagg 360 ggcctgaggg gctggcaggg ctgtggcctc caaggccctg gggctccttg ggggcagtgg 420 ggtggaggag tcgggctgac actgtagctc caggcacccc gagaaattcc tgcgggtgat 480 ccagggcttc aaggccgcca gctgctcgga ggtgtcctgc aggaggtggg agatgttggt 540 ctggacgaat cgaagacagc tggggagggg ctggaaggca cacaaggtga caaaatgtat 600 ctcggtgttg accgcctcca gcaggctttg catctgggac ccagccacag ccttgagccg 660 acccatccag cgctgggcca ggaccaggtg ccagaatggc ccacagagct cgtcgtcctg 720 taggttggag gcgacggtga ctgggtaatc ctgaagcagg taatcagaca gctttcggat 780 ggtgaccttg aaggtggagg agatggggct gtggctgaag gaacagtcgg gggacccgcg 840 gaggccaggg ctgagcagta gcagcagcag cagggaggta gttgggctcc aggctggcgc 900 cagcactatc atctcggccg gaggcccttc atgcctatgg cc 942 46 873 DNA Felis catus 46 atgatagtgc tggcgccagc ctggagccca actacctccc tgctgctgct gctactgctc 60 agccctggcc tccgcgggtc ccccgactgt tccttcagcc acagccccat ctcctccacc 120 ttcaaggtca ccatccgaaa gctgtctgat tacctgcttc aggattaccc agtcaccgtc 180 gcctccaacc tacaggacga cgagctctgt gggccattct ggcacctggt cctggcccag 240 cgctggatgg gtcggctcaa ggctgtggct gggtcccaga tgcaaagcct gctggaggcg 300 gtcaacaccg agatacattt tgtcaccttg tgtgccttcc agcccctccc cagctgtctt 360 cgattcgtcc agaccaacat ctcccacctc ctgcaggaca cctccgagca gctggcggcc 420 ttgaagccct ggatcacccg caggaatttc tcggggtgcc tggagctaca gtgtcagccc 480 gactcctcca ccccactgcc cccaaggagc cccagggcct tggaggccac agccctgcca 540 gcccctcagg cccctctgct gctcctcctg ctgctgttgc ctgtggctct cttgctgatg 600 tccgccgcct ggtgcctgca ctggcgaaga aggagatgga gaacgcccta ccccagggag 660 cagaggaaga cactgaggcc cagagagagg aatcacctgc ccgaggacac agagccggga 720 ctcggagaaa gtcagctaga gactggttcc ttcctcgacc acgctgcccc gctcactctc 780 cccccgggat ggaggcaacg ccagccccca acgccagccc cagacccacc tatccccctc 840 tgtacaaagt ccttgtcctc aggaaattgt ata 873 47 873 DNA Felis catus 47 tatacaattt cctgaggaca aggactttgt acagaggggg ataggtgggt ctggggctgg 60 cgttgggggc tggcgttgcc tccatcccgg ggggagagtg agcggggcag cgtggtcgag 120 gaaggaacca gtctctagct gactttctcc gagtcccggc tctgtgtcct cgggcaggtg 180 attcctctct ctgggcctca gtgtcttcct ctgctccctg gggtagggcg ttctccatct 240 ccttcttcgc cagtgcaggc accaggcggc ggacatcagc aagagagcca caggcaacag 300 cagcaggagg agcagcagag gggcctgagg ggctggcagg gctgtggcct ccaaggccct 360 ggggctcctt gggggcagtg gggtggagga gtcgggctga cactgtagct ccaggcaccc 420 cgagaaattc ctgcgggtga tccagggctt caaggccgcc agctgctcgg aggtgtcctg 480 caggaggtgg gagatgttgg tctggacgaa tcgaagacag ctggggaggg gctggaaggc 540 acacaaggtg acaaaatgta tctcggtgtt gaccgcctcc agcaggcttt gcatctggga 600 cccagccaca gccttgagcc gacccatcca gcgctgggcc aggaccaggt gccagaatgg 660 cccacagagc tcgtcgtcct gtaggttgga ggcgacggtg actgggtaat cctgaagcag 720 gtaatcagac agctttcgga tggtgacctt gaaggtggag gagatggggc tgtggctgaa 780 ggaacagtcg ggggacccgc ggaggccagg gctgagcagt agcagcagca gcagggaggt 840 agttgggctc caggctggcg ccagcactat cat 873 48 795 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(795) 48 tcc ccc gac tgt tcc ttc agc cac agc ccc atc tcc tcc acc ttc aag 48 Ser Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 gtc acc atc cga aag ctg tct gat tac ctg ctt cag gat tac cca gtc 96 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 acc gtc gcc tcc aac cta cag gac gac gag ctc tgt ggg cca ttc tgg 144 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Pro Phe Trp 35 40 45 cac ctg gtc ctg gcc cag cgc tgg atg ggt cgg ctc aag gct gtg gct 192 His Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 ggg tcc cag atg caa agc ctg ctg gag gcg gtc aac acc gag ata cat 240 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ser Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 ttt gtc acc ttg tgt gcc ttc cag ccc ctc ccc agc tgt ctt cga ttc 288 Phe Val Thr Leu Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe 85 90 95 gtc cag acc aac atc tcc cac ctc ctg cag gac acc tcc gag cag ctg 336 Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Glu Gln Leu 100 105 110 gcg gcc ttg aag ccc tgg atc acc cgc agg aat ttc tcg ggg tgc ctg 384 Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu 115 120 125 gag cta cag tgt cag ccc gac tcc tcc acc cca ctg ccc cca agg agc 432 Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Pro Leu Pro Pro Arg Ser 130 135 140 ccc agg gcc ttg gag gcc aca gcc ctg cca gcc cct cag gcc cct ctg 480 Pro Arg Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 ctg ctc ctc ctg ctg ctg ttg cct gtg gct ctc ttg ctg atg tcc gcc 528 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Ala 165 170 175 gcc tgg tgc ctg cac tgg cga aga agg aga tgg aga acg ccc tac ccc 576 Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Trp Arg Thr Pro Tyr Pro 180 185 190 agg gag cag agg aag aca ctg agg ccc aga gag agg aat cac ctg ccc 624 Arg Glu Gln Arg Lys Thr Leu Arg Pro Arg Glu Arg Asn His Leu Pro 195 200 205 gag gac aca gag ccg gga ctc gga gaa agt cag cta gag act ggt tcc 672 Glu Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly Leu Gly Glu Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Ser 210 215 220 ttc ctc gac cac gct gcc ccg ctc act ctc ccc ccg gga tgg agg caa 720 Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Trp Arg Gln 225 230 235 240 cgc cag ccc cca acg cca gcc cca gac cca cct atc ccc ctc tgt aca 768 Arg Gln Pro Pro Thr Pro Ala Pro Asp Pro Pro Ile Pro Leu Cys Thr 245 250 255 aag tcc ttg tcc tca gga aat tgt ata 795 Lys Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Asn Cys Ile 260 265 49 265 PRT Felis catus 49 Ser Pro Asp Cys Ser Phe Ser His Ser Pro Ile Ser Ser Thr Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ile Arg Lys Leu Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu Gln Asp Tyr Pro Val 20 25 30 Thr Val Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Asp Asp Glu Leu Cys Gly Pro Phe Trp 35 40 45 His Leu Val Leu Ala Gln Arg Trp Met Gly Arg Leu Lys Ala Val Ala 50 55 60 Gly Ser Gln Met Gln Ser Leu Leu Glu Ala Val Asn Thr Glu Ile His 65 70 75 80 Phe Val Thr Leu Cys Ala Phe Gln Pro Leu Pro Ser Cys Leu Arg Phe 85 90 95 Val Gln Thr Asn Ile Ser His Leu Leu Gln Asp Thr Ser Glu Gln Leu 100 105 110 Ala Ala Leu Lys Pro Trp Ile Thr Arg Arg Asn Phe Ser Gly Cys Leu 115 120 125 Glu Leu Gln Cys Gln Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Pro Leu Pro Pro Arg Ser 130 135 140 Pro Arg Ala Leu Glu Ala Thr Ala Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ala Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Val Ala Leu Leu Leu Met Ser Ala 165 170 175 Ala Trp Cys Leu His Trp Arg Arg Arg Arg Trp Arg Thr Pro Tyr Pro 180 185 190 Arg Glu Gln Arg Lys Thr Leu Arg Pro Arg Glu Arg Asn His Leu Pro 195 200 205 Glu Asp Thr Glu Pro Gly Leu Gly Glu Ser Gln Leu Glu Thr Gly Ser 210 215 220 Phe Leu Asp His Ala Ala Pro Leu Thr Leu Pro Pro Gly Trp Arg Gln 225 230 235 240 Arg Gln Pro Pro Thr Pro Ala Pro Asp Pro Pro Ile Pro Leu Cys Thr 245 250 255 Lys Ser Leu Ser Ser Gly Asn Cys Ile 260 265 50 795 DNA Felis catus 50 tatacaattt cctgaggaca aggactttgt acagaggggg ataggtgggt ctggggctgg 60 cgttgggggc tggcgttgcc tccatcccgg ggggagagtg agcggggcag cgtggtcgag 120 gaaggaacca gtctctagct gactttctcc gagtcccggc tctgtgtcct cgggcaggtg 180 attcctctct ctgggcctca gtgtcttcct ctgctccctg gggtagggcg ttctccatct 240 ccttcttcgc cagtgcaggc accaggcggc ggacatcagc aagagagcca caggcaacag 300 cagcaggagg agcagcagag gggcctgagg ggctggcagg gctgtggcct ccaaggccct 360 ggggctcctt gggggcagtg gggtggagga gtcgggctga cactgtagct ccaggcaccc 420 cgagaaattc ctgcgggtga tccagggctt caaggccgcc agctgctcgg aggtgtcctg 480 caggaggtgg gagatgttgg tctggacgaa tcgaagacag ctggggaggg gctggaaggc 540 acacaaggtg acaaaatgta tctcggtgtt gaccgcctcc agcaggcttt gcatctggga 600 cccagccaca gccttgagcc gacccatcca gcgctgggcc aggaccaggt gccagaatgg 660 cccacagagc tcgtcgtcct gtaggttgga ggcgacggtg actgggtaat cctgaagcag 720 gtaatcagac agctttcgga tggtgacctt gaaggtggag gagatggggc tgtggctgaa 780 ggaacagtcg gggga 795 51 321 DNA Canis familiaris 51 aatgtgtctt ctgctttgga aaagtgtcac ccttggacaa gctgtgaaac caaaggcctg 60 gtgaaggttc aggcgggaac taacaagact gatgttatct gtggtcccca gcctcggtta 120 agagccctag tggtggtccc catcattatg gggatcctgc ttgttgtcct gttggtgtct 180 gcctgcatcc gaaaggtggt caagaagcca gagaataagg ttatgtatca ggaccctgtg 240 gaggacttgg aggaatttcc tatgcccccg cactccattg ctccggtgca agagacctta 300 catgggtgcc agcccgtcac c 321 52 1425 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (196)..(1017) 52 tagactcccg ggaatattca ggggaactcc cggcgctaag ggtctccagg agctccgccc 60 tgcccaacga agccggccac gattggtccc cgaagacccc gcccatctcc tgggcggggc 120 gggcgggggc aagggctggg gagttactaa agacatcccc gcgcccctac tccgctgcct 180 gctattcacc tcgcc atg gtt ctc ctg cct ctg cgc tgt ctc ttc tgg ggc 231 Met Val Leu Leu Pro Leu Arg Cys Leu Phe Trp Gly 1 5 10 tcc ttg ttg acc acc gtc tac cca gaa cca cgc act gca tgc aga gaa 279 Ser Leu Leu Thr Thr Val Tyr Pro Glu Pro Arg Thr Ala Cys Arg Glu 15 20 25 aag caa tac cta gta gac agt cag tgc tgt aat atg tgc cca cca gga 327 Lys Gln Tyr Leu Val Asp Ser Gln Cys Cys Asn Met Cys Pro Pro Gly 30 35 40 gag aaa ctg gtg aat gac tgc cta cat acc att gac acg gaa tgc act 375 Glu Lys Leu Val Asn Asp Cys Leu His Thr Ile Asp Thr Glu Cys Thr 45 50 55 60 cgt tgc caa aca ggc gaa ttc cta gac act tgg aac gca gag aga cac 423 Arg Cys Gln Thr Gly Glu Phe Leu Asp Thr Trp Asn Ala Glu Arg His 65 70 75 tgt cac cag cac aaa tac tgc gac ccc aac cta ggg ctc cat gtc gag 471 Cys His Gln His Lys Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn Leu Gly Leu His Val Glu 80 85 90 aag gag ggc acg tca gaa aca gac acc act tgc aca tgc gat gaa ggt 519 Lys Glu Gly Thr Ser Glu Thr Asp Thr Thr Cys Thr Cys Asp Glu Gly 95 100 105 ctg cat tgt acc aac gct gcc tgt gag agc tgc acc atg cac agc ctg 567 Leu His Cys Thr Asn Ala Ala Cys Glu Ser Cys Thr Met His Ser Leu 110 115 120 tgc ccc cct ggc ctg gga gtc aaa cag atc gct aca ggg att tct gat 615 Cys Pro Pro Gly Leu Gly Val Lys Gln Ile Ala Thr Gly Ile Ser Asp 125 130 135 140 acc atc tgc gat ccc tgc ccc atc ggc ttc ttc tcc aat gtg tct tct 663 Thr Ile Cys Asp Pro Cys Pro Ile Gly Phe Phe Ser Asn Val Ser Ser 145 150 155 gct ttg gaa aag tgt cac cct tgg aca agc tgt gaa acc aaa ggc ctg 711 Ala Leu Glu Lys Cys His Pro Trp Thr Ser Cys Glu Thr Lys Gly Leu 160 165 170 gtg aag gtt cag gcg gga act aac aag act gat gtt atc tgt ggt ccc 759 Val Lys Val Gln Ala Gly Thr Asn Lys Thr Asp Val Ile Cys Gly Pro 175 180 185 cag cct cgg tta aga gcc cta gtg gtg gtc ccc atc att atg ggg atc 807 Gln Pro Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu Val Val Val Pro Ile Ile Met Gly Ile 190 195 200 ctg ctt gtt gtc ctg ttg gtg tct gcc tgc atc cga aag gtg gtc aag 855 Leu Leu Val Val Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Cys Ile Arg Lys Val Val Lys 205 210 215 220 aag cca gag aat aag gtt atg tat cag gac cct gtg gag gac ttg gag 903 Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Val Met Tyr Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu 225 230 235 gaa ttt cct atg ccc ccg cac tcc att gct ccg gtg caa gag acc tta 951 Glu Phe Pro Met Pro Pro His Ser Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu 240 245 250 cat ggg tgc cag ccc gtc acc cag gag gac ggc aaa gag agc cgc atc 999 His Gly Cys Gln Pro Val Thr Gln Glu Asp Gly Lys Glu Ser Arg Ile 255 260 265 tcc gtg cag gag aga gtg tgaggcagcg tgtgcccagg agtgtgacag 1047 Ser Val Gln Glu Arg Val 270 cgtgggagag tgggcgcgtg gctggagagc ctggagctgc tggaggggca tgaaggggcg 1107 gtgctcccct gcctgcaccc ctgtgctgca gaaacagaga accttccacc ccacccctgg 1167 agcccattcc acctcccaac ttgcttttaa agatggagat gaaacttttg gggggccaga 1227 tagtaatatc caccaaccca gcatttcagg gccctgaggt gtatatcacg gtggtttcta 1287 cgagcccagg aagacccacg aagagccatt gtggcattgt ttgtgacagt ggacaactgg 1347 aggccactta gctgttcagc agcaggggac tggctaaata aaatttgtaa tatatttata 1407 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1425 53 274 PRT Canis familiaris 53 Met Val Leu Leu Pro Leu Arg Cys Leu Phe Trp Gly Ser Leu Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Tyr Pro Glu Pro Arg Thr Ala Cys Arg Glu Lys Gln Tyr Leu 20 25 30 Val Asp Ser Gln Cys Cys Asn Met Cys Pro Pro Gly Glu Lys Leu Val 35 40 45 Asn Asp Cys Leu His Thr Ile Asp Thr Glu Cys Thr Arg Cys Gln Thr 50 55 60 Gly Glu Phe Leu Asp Thr Trp Asn Ala Glu Arg His Cys His Gln His 65 70 75 80 Lys Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn Leu Gly Leu His Val Glu Lys Glu Gly Thr 85 90 95 Ser Glu Thr Asp Thr Thr Cys Thr Cys Asp Glu Gly Leu His Cys Thr 100 105 110 Asn Ala Ala Cys Glu Ser Cys Thr Met His Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly 115 120 125 Leu Gly Val Lys Gln Ile Ala Thr Gly Ile Ser Asp Thr Ile Cys Asp 130 135 140 Pro Cys Pro Ile Gly Phe Phe Ser Asn Val Ser Ser Ala Leu Glu Lys 145 150 155 160 Cys His Pro Trp Thr Ser Cys Glu Thr Lys Gly Leu Val Lys Val Gln 165 170 175 Ala Gly Thr Asn Lys Thr Asp Val Ile Cys Gly Pro Gln Pro Arg Leu 180 185 190 Arg Ala Leu Val Val Val Pro Ile Ile Met Gly Ile Leu Leu Val Val 195 200 205 Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Cys Ile Arg Lys Val Val Lys Lys Pro Glu Asn 210 215 220 Lys Val Met Tyr Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu Glu Phe Pro Met 225 230 235 240 Pro Pro His Ser Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu His Gly Cys Gln 245 250 255 Pro Val Thr Gln Glu Asp Gly Lys Glu Ser Arg Ile Ser Val Gln Glu 260 265 270 Arg Val 54 1425 DNA Canis familiaris 54 tttttttttt ttttttttta taaatatatt acaaatttta tttagccagt cccctgctgc 60 tgaacagcta agtggcctcc agttgtccac tgtcacaaac aatgccacaa tggctcttcg 120 tgggtcttcc tgggctcgta gaaaccaccg tgatatacac ctcagggccc tgaaatgctg 180 ggttggtgga tattactatc tggcccccca aaagtttcat ctccatcttt aaaagcaagt 240 tgggaggtgg aatgggctcc aggggtgggg tggaaggttc tctgtttctg cagcacaggg 300 gtgcaggcag gggagcaccg ccccttcatg cccctccagc agctccaggc tctccagcca 360 cgcgcccact ctcccacgct gtcacactcc tgggcacacg ctgcctcaca ctctctcctg 420 cacggagatg cggctctctt tgccgtcctc ctgggtgacg ggctggcacc catgtaaggt 480 ctcttgcacc ggagcaatgg agtgcggggg cataggaaat tcctccaagt cctccacagg 540 gtcctgatac ataaccttat tctctggctt cttgaccacc tttcggatgc aggcagacac 600 caacaggaca acaagcagga tccccataat gatggggacc accactaggg ctcttaaccg 660 aggctgggga ccacagataa catcagtctt gttagttccc gcctgaacct tcaccaggcc 720 tttggtttca cagcttgtcc aagggtgaca cttttccaaa gcagaagaca cattggagaa 780 gaagccgatg gggcagggat cgcagatggt atcagaaatc cctgtagcga tctgtttgac 840 tcccaggcca ggggggcaca ggctgtgcat ggtgcagctc tcacaggcag cgttggtaca 900 atgcagacct tcatcgcatg tgcaagtggt gtctgtttct gacgtgccct ccttctcgac 960 atggagccct aggttggggt cgcagtattt gtgctggtga cagtgtctct ctgcgttcca 1020 agtgtctagg aattcgcctg tttggcaacg agtgcattcc gtgtcaatgg tatgtaggca 1080 gtcattcacc agtttctctc ctggtgggca catattacag cactgactgt ctactaggta 1140 ttgcttttct ctgcatgcag tgcgtggttc tgggtagacg gtggtcaaca aggagcccca 1200 gaagagacag cgcagaggca ggagaaccat ggcgaggtga atagcaggca gcggagtagg 1260 ggcgcgggga tgtctttagt aactccccag cccttgcccc cgcccgcccc gcccaggaga 1320 tgggcggggt cttcggggac caatcgtggc cggcttcgtt gggcagggcg gagctcctgg 1380 agacccttag cgccgggagt tcccctgaat attcccggga gtcta 1425 55 822 DNA Canis familiaris 55 atggttctcc tgcctctgcg ctgtctcttc tggggctcct tgttgaccac cgtctaccca 60 gaaccacgca ctgcatgcag agaaaagcaa tacctagtag acagtcagtg ctgtaatatg 120 tgcccaccag gagagaaact ggtgaatgac tgcctacata ccattgacac ggaatgcact 180 cgttgccaaa caggcgaatt cctagacact tggaacgcag agagacactg tcaccagcac 240 aaatactgcg accccaacct agggctccat gtcgagaagg agggcacgtc agaaacagac 300 accacttgca catgcgatga aggtctgcat tgtaccaacg ctgcctgtga gagctgcacc 360 atgcacagcc tgtgcccccc tggcctggga gtcaaacaga tcgctacagg gatttctgat 420 accatctgcg atccctgccc catcggcttc ttctccaatg tgtcttctgc tttggaaaag 480 tgtcaccctt ggacaagctg tgaaaccaaa ggcctggtga aggttcaggc gggaactaac 540 aagactgatg ttatctgtgg tccccagcct cggttaagag ccctagtggt ggtccccatc 600 attatgggga tcctgcttgt tgtcctgttg gtgtctgcct gcatccgaaa ggtggtcaag 660 aagccagaga ataaggttat gtatcaggac cctgtggagg acttggagga atttcctatg 720 cccccgcact ccattgctcc ggtgcaagag accttacatg ggtgccagcc cgtcacccag 780 gaggacggca aagagagccg catctccgtg caggagagag tg 822 56 822 DNA Canis familiaris 56 cactctctcc tgcacggaga tgcggctctc tttgccgtcc tcctgggtga cgggctggca 60 cccatgtaag gtctcttgca ccggagcaat ggagtgcggg ggcataggaa attcctccaa 120 gtcctccaca gggtcctgat acataacctt attctctggc ttcttgacca cctttcggat 180 gcaggcagac accaacagga caacaagcag gatccccata atgatgggga ccaccactag 240 ggctcttaac cgaggctggg gaccacagat aacatcagtc ttgttagttc ccgcctgaac 300 cttcaccagg cctttggttt cacagcttgt ccaagggtga cacttttcca aagcagaaga 360 cacattggag aagaagccga tggggcaggg atcgcagatg gtatcagaaa tccctgtagc 420 gatctgtttg actcccaggc caggggggca caggctgtgc atggtgcagc tctcacaggc 480 agcgttggta caatgcagac cttcatcgca tgtgcaagtg gtgtctgttt ctgacgtgcc 540 ctccttctcg acatggagcc ctaggttggg gtcgcagtat ttgtgctggt gacagtgtct 600 ctctgcgttc caagtgtcta ggaattcgcc tgtttggcaa cgagtgcatt ccgtgtcaat 660 ggtatgtagg cagtcattca ccagtttctc tcctggtggg cacatattac agcactgact 720 gtctactagg tattgctttt ctctgcatgc agtgcgtggt tctgggtaga cggtggtcaa 780 caaggagccc cagaagagac agcgcagagg caggagaacc at 822 57 765 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(765) 57 cca gaa cca cgc act gca tgc aga gaa aag caa tac cta gta gac agt 48 Pro Glu Pro Arg Thr Ala Cys Arg Glu Lys Gln Tyr Leu Val Asp Ser 1 5 10 15 cag tgc tgt aat atg tgc cca cca gga gag aaa ctg gtg aat gac tgc 96 Gln Cys Cys Asn Met Cys Pro Pro Gly Glu Lys Leu Val Asn Asp Cys 20 25 30 cta cat acc att gac acg gaa tgc act cgt tgc caa aca ggc gaa ttc 144 Leu His Thr Ile Asp Thr Glu Cys Thr Arg Cys Gln Thr Gly Glu Phe 35 40 45 cta gac act tgg aac gca gag aga cac tgt cac cag cac aaa tac tgc 192 Leu Asp Thr Trp Asn Ala Glu Arg His Cys His Gln His Lys Tyr Cys 50 55 60 gac ccc aac cta ggg ctc cat gtc gag aag gag ggc acg tca gaa aca 240 Asp Pro Asn Leu Gly Leu His Val Glu Lys Glu Gly Thr Ser Glu Thr 65 70 75 80 gac acc act tgc aca tgc gat gaa ggt ctg cat tgt acc aac gct gcc 288 Asp Thr Thr Cys Thr Cys Asp Glu Gly Leu His Cys Thr Asn Ala Ala 85 90 95 tgt gag agc tgc acc atg cac agc ctg tgc ccc cct ggc ctg gga gtc 336 Cys Glu Ser Cys Thr Met His Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Leu Gly Val 100 105 110 aaa cag atc gct aca ggg att tct gat acc atc tgc gat ccc tgc ccc 384 Lys Gln Ile Ala Thr Gly Ile Ser Asp Thr Ile Cys Asp Pro Cys Pro 115 120 125 atc ggc ttc ttc tcc aat gtg tct tct gct ttg gaa aag tgt cac cct 432 Ile Gly Phe Phe Ser Asn Val Ser Ser Ala Leu Glu Lys Cys His Pro 130 135 140 tgg aca agc tgt gaa acc aaa ggc ctg gtg aag gtt cag gcg gga act 480 Trp Thr Ser Cys Glu Thr Lys Gly Leu Val Lys Val Gln Ala Gly Thr 145 150 155 160 aac aag act gat gtt atc tgt ggt ccc cag cct cgg tta aga gcc cta 528 Asn Lys Thr Asp Val Ile Cys Gly Pro Gln Pro Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu 165 170 175 gtg gtg gtc ccc atc att atg ggg atc ctg ctt gtt gtc ctg ttg gtg 576 Val Val Val Pro Ile Ile Met Gly Ile Leu Leu Val Val Leu Leu Val 180 185 190 tct gcc tgc atc cga aag gtg gtc aag aag cca gag aat aag gtt atg 624 Ser Ala Cys Ile Arg Lys Val Val Lys Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Val Met 195 200 205 tat cag gac cct gtg gag gac ttg gag gaa ttt cct atg ccc ccg cac 672 Tyr Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu Glu Phe Pro Met Pro Pro His 210 215 220 tcc att gct ccg gtg caa gag acc tta cat ggg tgc cag ccc gtc acc 720 Ser Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu His Gly Cys Gln Pro Val Thr 225 230 235 240 cag gag gac ggc aaa gag agc cgc atc tcc gtg cag gag aga gtg 765 Gln Glu Asp Gly Lys Glu Ser Arg Ile Ser Val Gln Glu Arg Val 245 250 255 58 255 PRT Canis familiaris 58 Pro Glu Pro Arg Thr Ala Cys Arg Glu Lys Gln Tyr Leu Val Asp Ser 1 5 10 15 Gln Cys Cys Asn Met Cys Pro Pro Gly Glu Lys Leu Val Asn Asp Cys 20 25 30 Leu His Thr Ile Asp Thr Glu Cys Thr Arg Cys Gln Thr Gly Glu Phe 35 40 45 Leu Asp Thr Trp Asn Ala Glu Arg His Cys His Gln His Lys Tyr Cys 50 55 60 Asp Pro Asn Leu Gly Leu His Val Glu Lys Glu Gly Thr Ser Glu Thr 65 70 75 80 Asp Thr Thr Cys Thr Cys Asp Glu Gly Leu His Cys Thr Asn Ala Ala 85 90 95 Cys Glu Ser Cys Thr Met His Ser Leu Cys Pro Pro Gly Leu Gly Val 100 105 110 Lys Gln Ile Ala Thr Gly Ile Ser Asp Thr Ile Cys Asp Pro Cys Pro 115 120 125 Ile Gly Phe Phe Ser Asn Val Ser Ser Ala Leu Glu Lys Cys His Pro 130 135 140 Trp Thr Ser Cys Glu Thr Lys Gly Leu Val Lys Val Gln Ala Gly Thr 145 150 155 160 Asn Lys Thr Asp Val Ile Cys Gly Pro Gln Pro Arg Leu Arg Ala Leu 165 170 175 Val Val Val Pro Ile Ile Met Gly Ile Leu Leu Val Val Leu Leu Val 180 185 190 Ser Ala Cys Ile Arg Lys Val Val Lys Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Val Met 195 200 205 Tyr Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu Glu Phe Pro Met Pro Pro His 210 215 220 Ser Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu His Gly Cys Gln Pro Val Thr 225 230 235 240 Gln Glu Asp Gly Lys Glu Ser Arg Ile Ser Val Gln Glu Arg Val 245 250 255 59 765 DNA Canis familiaris 59 cactctctcc tgcacggaga tgcggctctc tttgccgtcc tcctgggtga cgggctggca 60 cccatgtaag gtctcttgca ccggagcaat ggagtgcggg ggcataggaa attcctccaa 120 gtcctccaca gggtcctgat acataacctt attctctggc ttcttgacca cctttcggat 180 gcaggcagac accaacagga caacaagcag gatccccata atgatgggga ccaccactag 240 ggctcttaac cgaggctggg gaccacagat aacatcagtc ttgttagttc ccgcctgaac 300 cttcaccagg cctttggttt cacagcttgt ccaagggtga cacttttcca aagcagaaga 360 cacattggag aagaagccga tggggcaggg atcgcagatg gtatcagaaa tccctgtagc 420 gatctgtttg actcccaggc caggggggca caggctgtgc atggtgcagc tctcacaggc 480 agcgttggta caatgcagac cttcatcgca tgtgcaagtg gtgtctgttt ctgacgtgcc 540 ctccttctcg acatggagcc ctaggttggg gtcgcagtat ttgtgctggt gacagtgtct 600 ctctgcgttc caagtgtcta ggaattcgcc tgtttggcaa cgagtgcatt ccgtgtcaat 660 ggtatgtagg cagtcattca ccagtttctc tcctggtggg cacatattac agcactgact 720 gtctactagg tattgctttt ctctgcatgc agtgcgtggt tctgg 765 60 336 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(336) 60 aat gtg tca tct gct tcg gaa aag tgt cac cct tgg acg agg tgt gag 48 Asn Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Glu Lys Cys His Pro Trp Thr Arg Cys Glu 1 5 10 15 acc aaa ggc ctg gtg gag ctt cag gcg ggg acc aac aag acg gat gcc 96 Thr Lys Gly Leu Val Glu Leu Gln Ala Gly Thr Asn Lys Thr Asp Ala 20 25 30 gtc tgc ggt ttc cag gat cgg ata aga gcc ctg gtg gtg atc ccc atc 144 Val Cys Gly Phe Gln Asp Arg Ile Arg Ala Leu Val Val Ile Pro Ile 35 40 45 acg atg gtg gtc ctg ctt gct gtc ttg ttg gtg tct gcg tat atc aga 192 Thr Met Val Val Leu Leu Ala Val Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Tyr Ile Arg 50 55 60 aag gtg acc aag aag cca gag aat aag gtc ctc cag cct aag gct gtg 240 Lys Val Thr Lys Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Val Leu Gln Pro Lys Ala Val 65 70 75 80 tcg cag gac cct gtg gag gac ttg gag gtc ctt cct gtc ccc ctc cac 288 Ser Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu Val Leu Pro Val Pro Leu His 85 90 95 ccc att gct ccg gtg cag gag acc tta cac ggg tgc cag ccg gtc acc 336 Pro Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu His Gly Cys Gln Pro Val Thr 100 105 110 61 112 PRT Felis catus 61 Asn Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Glu Lys Cys His Pro Trp Thr Arg Cys Glu 1 5 10 15 Thr Lys Gly Leu Val Glu Leu Gln Ala Gly Thr Asn Lys Thr Asp Ala 20 25 30 Val Cys Gly Phe Gln Asp Arg Ile Arg Ala Leu Val Val Ile Pro Ile 35 40 45 Thr Met Val Val Leu Leu Ala Val Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Tyr Ile Arg 50 55 60 Lys Val Thr Lys Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Val Leu Gln Pro Lys Ala Val 65 70 75 80 Ser Gln Asp Pro Val Glu Asp Leu Glu Val Leu Pro Val Pro Leu His 85 90 95 Pro Ile Ala Pro Val Gln Glu Thr Leu His Gly Cys Gln Pro Val Thr 100 105 110 62 336 DNA Felis catus 62 ggtgaccggc tggcacccgt gtaaggtctc ctgcaccgga gcaatggggt ggagggggac 60 aggaaggacc tccaagtcct ccacagggtc ctgcgacaca gccttaggct ggaggacctt 120 attctctggc ttcttggtca cctttctgat atacgcagac accaacaaga cagcaagcag 180 gaccaccatc gtgatgggga tcaccaccag ggctcttatc cgatcctgga aaccgcagac 240 ggcatccgtc ttgttggtcc ccgcctgaag ctccaccagg cctttggtct cacacctcgt 300 ccaagggtga cacttttccg aagcagatga cacatt 336 63 390 DNA Canis familiaris 63 ataagtgagg ctagtagtaa cccagcgtcc gttctgcggt gggcgccaaa agggtactac 60 accataagca gcaacctggt gagcctcgag aatgggaaac agttggccgt gaaaagacaa 120 ggactctatt acgtctatgc ccaagtcacc ttctgctcca atcgggcagc ttcgagtcaa 180 gctccgttcg tcgccagcct atgcctccat tccccgagtg gaacggagag agtcttactc 240 cgcgccgcga gctcccgcgg ctcgtccaaa ccttgcggcc aacagtccat ccacttggga 300 ggagtatttg aattgcatcc aggtgcttcg gtgttcgtca acgtgactga tccaagccaa 360 gtgagccacg ggaccggctt cacgtctttt 390 64 1878 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (284)..(1063) 64 aatgtatgga agaagaaact tgtttcttct ttactaacaa aagggaaagc ctggaagtga 60 atgatatggg tataattaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaccttta cgtaactttt 120 tttgctggga gagaagacta cgaagcacat tttccaggaa gtgtgggctg caacgattgt 180 gcgctcttaa ctaatcctga gtaaggtggc cactttgaca gtgttttcat gctgcctctg 240 ccaccttctc ggtctgaaga tatcatttca actctaacac agc atg atc gaa aca 295 Met Ile Glu Thr 1 tat agc caa act gct ccc cga tct gtg gcc act gga cca ccc gtc agt 343 Tyr Ser Gln Thr Ala Pro Arg Ser Val Ala Thr Gly Pro Pro Val Ser 5 10 15 20 atg aaa att ttt atg tat ttg ctt act gtt ttt ctc atc acc cag atg 391 Met Lys Ile Phe Met Tyr Leu Leu Thr Val Phe Leu Ile Thr Gln Met 25 30 35 att gga tcg gca ctc ttt gct gta tat ctt cac aga aga ttg gac aag 439 Ile Gly Ser Ala Leu Phe Ala Val Tyr Leu His Arg Arg Leu Asp Lys 40 45 50 ata gaa gat gaa agg aat ctt tat gaa gat ttt gtg ttc atg aaa acg 487 Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe Met Lys Thr 55 60 65 tta cag aaa tgc aac aaa ggg gag ggg tcc ttg tcc tta ctg aac tgt 535 Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Cys 70 75 80 gag gaa att aaa agc caa ttt gaa gcc ttt ctc aag gag ata atg cta 583 Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Gln Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu Ile Met Leu 85 90 95 100 aac aac gaa atg aag aaa gaa gaa aac att gca atg caa aaa ggt gat 631 Asn Asn Glu Met Lys Lys Glu Glu Asn Ile Ala Met Gln Lys Gly Asp 105 110 115 cag gat cct cga att gca gcc cat gtc ata agt gag gct agt agt aac 679 Gln Asp Pro Arg Ile Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala Ser Ser Asn 120 125 130 cca gcg tcc gtt ctg cgg tgg gcg cca aaa ggg tac tac acc ata agc 727 Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Arg Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Thr Ile Ser 135 140 145 agc aac ctg gtg agc ctc gag aat ggg aaa cag ttg gcc gtg aaa aga 775 Ser Asn Leu Val Ser Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala Val Lys Arg 150 155 160 caa gga ctc tat tac gtc tat gcc caa gtc acc ttc tgc tcc aat cgg 823 Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Val Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys Ser Asn Arg 165 170 175 180 gca gct tcg agt caa gct ccg ttc gtc gcc agc cta tgc ctc cat tcc 871 Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Val Ala Ser Leu Cys Leu His Ser 185 190 195 ccg agt gga acg gag aga gtc tta ctc cgc gcc gcg agc tcc cgc ggc 919 Pro Ser Gly Thr Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Ser Ser Arg Gly 200 205 210 tcg tcc aaa cct tgc ggc caa cag tcc atc cac ttg gga gga gta ttt 967 Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly Gly Val Phe 215 220 225 gaa ttg cat cca ggt gct tcg gtg ttc gtc aac gtg act gat cca agc 1015 Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr Asp Pro Ser 230 235 240 caa gtg agc cac ggg acc ggc ttc acg tct ttt ggc tta ctc aaa ctc 1063 Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu Leu Lys Leu 245 250 255 260 tgagtgctgg cacctcacag gctgcagctc agctcctgtt ggtggtcttc gtaatacggc 1123 cgagcagtta agaccaccac ccctgttgaa ctgcctattt ataaccctag gatcctcctc 1183 gtggagaact atttattata cacccccagg cgtggagggc tgcaagaagg gaatgacagg 1243 gcgggggcag cgccaacagg ccccggtcgg taagagttga tattctggaa gcagccgccc 1303 cactgatgca gacatccaga gagtcccatg aaaaagacga gactattatg cacagattga 1363 atcctcagta aacggcagat aattagtcca gtttcgtttt gtttctttgc atgcagtgtc 1423 tttcactgga gaatgtactc gatttccccg cgaagatgct gaagggcaac agggagcctc 1483 agctcacagt cagttacggt tgacccgggg tccccggggc cccgatggag gggacaggct 1543 ccagaaagtc tgatggcgcg gagaactgga aaaccctgcc cccaccagcc accctgacac 1603 tcattctctc cctcctccgc ccccctcccc ccacagtcag gctgttgcta atcggttatc 1663 ttatttcaac cctgttgcct ctccaccagt gtaggcggga ggagagagca gaggctgccc 1723 actcctcctc ctgaaatgac tgtatttaaa ggaaatctct cctacctacc tgcagtctcc 1783 attgtttcca gagtgaactt gtgattatct tgttatttat tttttgaata ataaagcgcc 1843 cttaacgtta aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 1878 65 260 PRT Canis familiaris 65 Met Ile Glu Thr Tyr Ser Gln Thr Ala Pro Arg Ser Val Ala Thr Gly 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Val Ser Met Lys Ile Phe Met Tyr Leu Leu Thr Val Phe Leu 20 25 30 Ile Thr Gln Met Ile Gly Ser Ala Leu Phe Ala Val Tyr Leu His Arg 35 40 45 Arg Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val 50 55 60 Phe Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ser Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Gln Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys 85 90 95 Glu Ile Met Leu Asn Asn Glu Met Lys Lys Glu Glu Asn Ile Ala Met 100 105 110 Gln Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Ile Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu 115 120 125 Ala Ser Ser Asn Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Arg Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr 130 135 140 Tyr Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Ser Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu 145 150 155 160 Ala Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Val Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe 165 170 175 Cys Ser Asn Arg Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Val Ala Ser Leu 180 185 190 Cys Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Thr Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala 195 200 205 Ser Ser Arg Gly Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu 210 215 220 Gly Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Thr Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly 245 250 255 Leu Leu Lys Leu 260 66 1878 DNA Canis familiaris 66 tttttttttt tttttttttt ttttttaacg ttaagggcgc tttattattc aaaaaataaa 60 taacaagata atcacaagtt cactctggaa acaatggaga ctgcaggtag gtaggagaga 120 tttcctttaa atacagtcat ttcaggagga ggagtgggca gcctctgctc tctcctcccg 180 cctacactgg tggagaggca acagggttga aataagataa ccgattagca acagcctgac 240 tgtgggggga ggggggcgga ggagggagag aatgagtgtc agggtggctg gtgggggcag 300 ggttttccag ttctccgcgc catcagactt tctggagcct gtcccctcca tcggggcccc 360 ggggaccccg ggtcaaccgt aactgactgt gagctgaggc tccctgttgc ccttcagcat 420 cttcgcgggg aaatcgagta cattctccag tgaaagacac tgcatgcaaa gaaacaaaac 480 gaaactggac taattatctg ccgtttactg aggattcaat ctgtgcataa tagtctcgtc 540 tttttcatgg gactctctgg atgtctgcat cagtggggcg gctgcttcca gaatatcaac 600 tcttaccgac cggggcctgt tggcgctgcc cccgccctgt cattcccttc ttgcagccct 660 ccacgcctgg gggtgtataa taaatagttc tccacgagga ggatcctagg gttataaata 720 ggcagttcaa caggggtggt ggtcttaact gctcggccgt attacgaaga ccaccaacag 780 gagctgagct gcagcctgtg aggtgccagc actcagagtt tgagtaagcc aaaagacgtg 840 aagccggtcc cgtggctcac ttggcttgga tcagtcacgt tgacgaacac cgaagcacct 900 ggatgcaatt caaatactcc tcccaagtgg atggactgtt ggccgcaagg tttggacgag 960 ccgcgggagc tcgcggcgcg gagtaagact ctctccgttc cactcgggga atggaggcat 1020 aggctggcga cgaacggagc ttgactcgaa gctgcccgat tggagcagaa ggtgacttgg 1080 gcatagacgt aatagagtcc ttgtcttttc acggccaact gtttcccatt ctcgaggctc 1140 accaggttgc tgcttatggt gtagtaccct tttggcgccc accgcagaac ggacgctggg 1200 ttactactag cctcacttat gacatgggct gcaattcgag gatcctgatc acctttttgc 1260 attgcaatgt tttcttcttt cttcatttcg ttgtttagca ttatctcctt gagaaaggct 1320 tcaaattggc ttttaatttc ctcacagttc agtaaggaca aggacccctc ccctttgttg 1380 catttctgta acgttttcat gaacacaaaa tcttcataaa gattcctttc atcttctatc 1440 ttgtccaatc ttctgtgaag atatacagca aagagtgccg atccaatcat ctgggtgatg 1500 agaaaaacag taagcaaata cataaaaatt ttcatactga cgggtggtcc agtggccaca 1560 gatcggggag cagtttggct atatgtttcg atcatgctgt gttagagttg aaatgatatc 1620 ttcagaccga gaaggtggca gaggcagcat gaaaacactg tcaaagtggc caccttactc 1680 aggattagtt aagagcgcac aatcgttgca gcccacactt cctggaaaat gtgcttcgta 1740 gtcttctctc ccagcaaaaa aagttacgta aaggtttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt 1800 taattatacc catatcattc acttccaggc tttccctttt gttagtaaag aagaaacaag 1860 tttcttcttc catacatt 1878 67 780 DNA Canis familiaris 67 atgatcgaaa catatagcca aactgctccc cgatctgtgg ccactggacc acccgtcagt 60 atgaaaattt ttatgtattt gcttactgtt tttctcatca cccagatgat tggatcggca 120 ctctttgctg tatatcttca cagaagattg gacaagatag aagatgaaag gaatctttat 180 gaagattttg tgttcatgaa aacgttacag aaatgcaaca aaggggaggg gtccttgtcc 240 ttactgaact gtgaggaaat taaaagccaa tttgaagcct ttctcaagga gataatgcta 300 aacaacgaaa tgaagaaaga agaaaacatt gcaatgcaaa aaggtgatca ggatcctcga 360 attgcagccc atgtcataag tgaggctagt agtaacccag cgtccgttct gcggtgggcg 420 ccaaaagggt actacaccat aagcagcaac ctggtgagcc tcgagaatgg gaaacagttg 480 gccgtgaaaa gacaaggact ctattacgtc tatgcccaag tcaccttctg ctccaatcgg 540 gcagcttcga gtcaagctcc gttcgtcgcc agcctatgcc tccattcccc gagtggaacg 600 gagagagtct tactccgcgc cgcgagctcc cgcggctcgt ccaaaccttg cggccaacag 660 tccatccact tgggaggagt atttgaattg catccaggtg cttcggtgtt cgtcaacgtg 720 actgatccaa gccaagtgag ccacgggacc ggcttcacgt cttttggctt actcaaactc 780 68 780 DNA Canis familiaris 68 gagtttgagt aagccaaaag acgtgaagcc ggtcccgtgg ctcacttggc ttggatcagt 60 cacgttgacg aacaccgaag cacctggatg caattcaaat actcctccca agtggatgga 120 ctgttggccg caaggtttgg acgagccgcg ggagctcgcg gcgcggagta agactctctc 180 cgttccactc ggggaatgga ggcataggct ggcgacgaac ggagcttgac tcgaagctgc 240 ccgattggag cagaaggtga cttgggcata gacgtaatag agtccttgtc ttttcacggc 300 caactgtttc ccattctcga ggctcaccag gttgctgctt atggtgtagt acccttttgg 360 cgcccaccgc agaacggacg ctgggttact actagcctca cttatgacat gggctgcaat 420 tcgaggatcc tgatcacctt tttgcattgc aatgttttct tctttcttca tttcgttgtt 480 tagcattatc tccttgagaa aggcttcaaa ttggctttta atttcctcac agttcagtaa 540 ggacaaggac ccctcccctt tgttgcattt ctgtaacgtt ttcatgaaca caaaatcttc 600 ataaagattc ctttcatctt ctatcttgtc caatcttctg tgaagatata cagcaaagag 660 tgccgatcca atcatctggg tgatgagaaa aacagtaagc aaatacataa aaattttcat 720 actgacgggt ggtccagtgg ccacagatcg gggagcagtt tggctatatg tttcgatcat 780 69 633 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(633) 69 ttg gac aag ata gaa gat gaa agg aat ctt tat gaa gat ttt gtg ttc 48 Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe 1 5 10 15 atg aaa acg tta cag aaa tgc aac aaa ggg gag ggg tcc ttg tcc tta 96 Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30 ctg aac tgt gag gaa att aaa agc caa ttt gaa gcc ttt ctc aag gag 144 Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Gln Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu 35 40 45 ata atg cta aac aac gaa atg aag aaa gaa gaa aac att gca atg caa 192 Ile Met Leu Asn Asn Glu Met Lys Lys Glu Glu Asn Ile Ala Met Gln 50 55 60 aaa ggt gat cag gat cct cga att gca gcc cat gtc ata agt gag gct 240 Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Ile Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 agt agt aac cca gcg tcc gtt ctg cgg tgg gcg cca aaa ggg tac tac 288 Ser Ser Asn Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Arg Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr 85 90 95 acc ata agc agc aac ctg gtg agc ctc gag aat ggg aaa cag ttg gcc 336 Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Ser Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala 100 105 110 gtg aaa aga caa gga ctc tat tac gtc tat gcc caa gtc acc ttc tgc 384 Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Val Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys 115 120 125 tcc aat cgg gca gct tcg agt caa gct ccg ttc gtc gcc agc cta tgc 432 Ser Asn Arg Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Val Ala Ser Leu Cys 130 135 140 ctc cat tcc ccg agt gga acg gag aga gtc tta ctc cgc gcc gcg agc 480 Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Thr Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Ser 145 150 155 160 tcc cgc ggc tcg tcc aaa cct tgc ggc caa cag tcc atc cac ttg gga 528 Ser Arg Gly Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly 165 170 175 gga gta ttt gaa ttg cat cca ggt gct tcg gtg ttc gtc aac gtg act 576 Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr 180 185 190 gat cca agc caa gtg agc cac ggg acc ggc ttc acg tct ttt ggc tta 624 Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu 195 200 205 ctc aaa ctc 633 Leu Lys Leu 210 70 211 PRT Canis familiaris 70 Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe 1 5 10 15 Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ser Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30 Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Gln Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu 35 40 45 Ile Met Leu Asn Asn Glu Met Lys Lys Glu Glu Asn Ile Ala Met Gln 50 55 60 Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Ile Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 Ser Ser Asn Pro Ala Ser Val Leu Arg Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr 85 90 95 Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Ser Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala 100 105 110 Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Val Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys 115 120 125 Ser Asn Arg Ala Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Val Ala Ser Leu Cys 130 135 140 Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Thr Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Ser 145 150 155 160 Ser Arg Gly Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly 165 170 175 Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr 180 185 190 Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu 195 200 205 Leu Lys Leu 210 71 633 DNA Canis familiaris 71 gagtttgagt aagccaaaag acgtgaagcc ggtcccgtgg ctcacttggc ttggatcagt 60 cacgttgacg aacaccgaag cacctggatg caattcaaat actcctccca agtggatgga 120 ctgttggccg caaggtttgg acgagccgcg ggagctcgcg gcgcggagta agactctctc 180 cgttccactc ggggaatgga ggcataggct ggcgacgaac ggagcttgac tcgaagctgc 240 ccgattggag cagaaggtga cttgggcata gacgtaatag agtccttgtc ttttcacggc 300 caactgtttc ccattctcga ggctcaccag gttgctgctt atggtgtagt acccttttgg 360 cgcccaccgc agaacggacg ctgggttact actagcctca cttatgacat gggctgcaat 420 tcgaggatcc tgatcacctt tttgcattgc aatgttttct tctttcttca tttcgttgtt 480 tagcattatc tccttgagaa aggcttcaaa ttggctttta atttcctcac agttcagtaa 540 ggacaaggac ccctcccctt tgttgcattt ctgtaacgtt ttcatgaaca caaaatcttc 600 ataaagattc ctttcatctt ctatcttgtc caa 633 72 885 DNA Felis catus CDS (29)..(808) 72 gaagatacca tttcaacttt aacacagc atg atc gaa aca tat agc caa act 52 Met Ile Glu Thr Tyr Ser Gln Thr 1 5 gct ccc cgc tcc gtg gcc cct gga cca ccc gtc agt atg aaa att ttt 100 Ala Pro Arg Ser Val Ala Pro Gly Pro Pro Val Ser Met Lys Ile Phe 10 15 20 atg tat tta ctt act gtg ttt ctc atc acc cag atg att ggg tca gca 148 Met Tyr Leu Leu Thr Val Phe Leu Ile Thr Gln Met Ile Gly Ser Ala 25 30 35 40 ctc ttt gct gtg tat ctt cac aga aga ctg gac aag ata gaa gat gaa 196 Leu Phe Ala Val Tyr Leu His Arg Arg Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu 45 50 55 agg aat ctt tat gaa gat ttt gtg ttc atg aaa aca tta cag aaa tgc 244 Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys 60 65 70 aac aaa gga gag ggg gcc tta tcc tta ctg aac tgt gag gaa att aaa 292 Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys 75 80 85 agc cgg ttt gaa gcc ttt ctc aag gag ata atg cta aac aaa gaa acg 340 Ser Arg Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu Ile Met Leu Asn Lys Glu Thr 90 95 100 aag aaa gaa aaa aat gtt gca atg caa aaa ggc gac cag gat cct cga 388 Lys Lys Glu Lys Asn Val Ala Met Gln Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg 105 110 115 120 gtt gca gca cat gtc ata agt gag gcc agc agt agc aca gcg tct gtt 436 Val Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Val 125 130 135 ctc cag tgg gcc ccc aaa ggc tac tac acc ata agc agc aac ttg gtg 484 Leu Gln Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val 140 145 150 acc ctc gag aac ggg aag cag ctg gcc gtt aaa aga caa gga ctc tat 532 Thr Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr 155 160 165 tat atc tac gcc caa gtc acc ttc tgt tcc aat cgg gaa gct tcg agt 580 Tyr Ile Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys Ser Asn Arg Glu Ala Ser Ser 170 175 180 caa gct ccg ttc ata gcc agc ctc tgc ctg cat tcc ccg agt gga tcc 628 Gln Ala Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser Leu Cys Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Ser 185 190 195 200 gag aga gtc tta ctc aga gct gca aat gcc cgc agt tcc tcc aaa ccc 676 Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Asn Ala Arg Ser Ser Ser Lys Pro 205 210 215 tgt ggg cag caa tcc att cac ttg gga gga gtc ttc gaa ctg cat cca 724 Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro 220 225 230 ggt gct tcg gtg ttc gtg aac gtg act gat ccg agc caa gtg agc cac 772 Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His 235 240 245 ggg acg ggc ttc acg tct ttt ggc ttg ctc aaa ctc tgaacactgg 818 Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu Leu Lys Leu 250 255 260 cacctcgcag gccgcgaggc ctgcaggccg cggctgagct cacgctggga gtcttcacaa 878 tacagca 885 73 260 PRT Felis catus 73 Met Ile Glu Thr Tyr Ser Gln Thr Ala Pro Arg Ser Val Ala Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Val Ser Met Lys Ile Phe Met Tyr Leu Leu Thr Val Phe Leu 20 25 30 Ile Thr Gln Met Ile Gly Ser Ala Leu Phe Ala Val Tyr Leu His Arg 35 40 45 Arg Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val 50 55 60 Phe Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Arg Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys 85 90 95 Glu Ile Met Leu Asn Lys Glu Thr Lys Lys Glu Lys Asn Val Ala Met 100 105 110 Gln Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Val Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu 115 120 125 Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Val Leu Gln Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr 130 135 140 Tyr Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Thr Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu 145 150 155 160 Ala Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Ile Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe 165 170 175 Cys Ser Asn Arg Glu Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser Leu 180 185 190 Cys Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Ser Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala 195 200 205 Asn Ala Arg Ser Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu 210 215 220 Gly Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Thr Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly 245 250 255 Leu Leu Lys Leu 260 74 885 DNA Felis catus 74 tgctgtatta tgaagactcc cagcgtgagc tcagccgcgg cctgcaggcc tcgcggcctg 60 cgaggtgcca gtgttcagag tttgagcaag ccaaaagacg tgaagcccgt cccgtggctc 120 acttggctcg gatcagtcac gttcacgaac accgaagcac ctggatgcag ttcgaagact 180 cctcccaagt gaatggattg ctgcccacag ggtttggagg aactgcgggc atttgcagct 240 ctgagtaaga ctctctcgga tccactcggg gaatgcaggc agaggctggc tatgaacgga 300 gcttgactcg aagcttcccg attggaacag aaggtgactt gggcgtagat ataatagagt 360 ccttgtcttt taacggccag ctgcttcccg ttctcgaggg tcaccaagtt gctgcttatg 420 gtgtagtagc ctttgggggc ccactggaga acagacgctg tgctactgct ggcctcactt 480 atgacatgtg ctgcaactcg aggatcctgg tcgccttttt gcattgcaac atttttttct 540 ttcttcgttt ctttgtttag cattatctcc ttgagaaagg cttcaaaccg gcttttaatt 600 tcctcacagt tcagtaagga taaggccccc tctcctttgt tgcatttctg taatgttttc 660 atgaacacaa aatcttcata aagattcctt tcatcttcta tcttgtccag tcttctgtga 720 agatacacag caaagagtgc tgacccaatc atctgggtga tgagaaacac agtaagtaaa 780 tacataaaaa ttttcatact gacgggtggt ccaggggcca cggagcgggg agcagtttgg 840 ctatatgttt cgatcatgct gtgttaaagt tgaaatggta tcttc 885 75 780 DNA Felis catus 75 atgatcgaaa catatagcca aactgctccc cgctccgtgg cccctggacc acccgtcagt 60 atgaaaattt ttatgtattt acttactgtg tttctcatca cccagatgat tgggtcagca 120 ctctttgctg tgtatcttca cagaagactg gacaagatag aagatgaaag gaatctttat 180 gaagattttg tgttcatgaa aacattacag aaatgcaaca aaggagaggg ggccttatcc 240 ttactgaact gtgaggaaat taaaagccgg tttgaagcct ttctcaagga gataatgcta 300 aacaaagaaa cgaagaaaga aaaaaatgtt gcaatgcaaa aaggcgacca ggatcctcga 360 gttgcagcac atgtcataag tgaggccagc agtagcacag cgtctgttct ccagtgggcc 420 cccaaaggct actacaccat aagcagcaac ttggtgaccc tcgagaacgg gaagcagctg 480 gccgttaaaa gacaaggact ctattatatc tacgcccaag tcaccttctg ttccaatcgg 540 gaagcttcga gtcaagctcc gttcatagcc agcctctgcc tgcattcccc gagtggatcc 600 gagagagtct tactcagagc tgcaaatgcc cgcagttcct ccaaaccctg tgggcagcaa 660 tccattcact tgggaggagt cttcgaactg catccaggtg cttcggtgtt cgtgaacgtg 720 actgatccga gccaagtgag ccacgggacg ggcttcacgt cttttggctt gctcaaactc 780 76 780 DNA Felis catus 76 gagtttgagc aagccaaaag acgtgaagcc cgtcccgtgg ctcacttggc tcggatcagt 60 cacgttcacg aacaccgaag cacctggatg cagttcgaag actcctccca agtgaatgga 120 ttgctgccca cagggtttgg aggaactgcg ggcatttgca gctctgagta agactctctc 180 ggatccactc ggggaatgca ggcagaggct ggctatgaac ggagcttgac tcgaagcttc 240 ccgattggaa cagaaggtga cttgggcgta gatataatag agtccttgtc ttttaacggc 300 cagctgcttc ccgttctcga gggtcaccaa gttgctgctt atggtgtagt agcctttggg 360 ggcccactgg agaacagacg ctgtgctact gctggcctca cttatgacat gtgctgcaac 420 tcgaggatcc tggtcgcctt tttgcattgc aacatttttt tctttcttcg tttctttgtt 480 tagcattatc tccttgagaa aggcttcaaa ccggctttta atttcctcac agttcagtaa 540 ggataaggcc ccctctcctt tgttgcattt ctgtaatgtt ttcatgaaca caaaatcttc 600 ataaagattc ctttcatctt ctatcttgtc cagtcttctg tgaagataca cagcaaagag 660 tgctgaccca atcatctggg tgatgagaaa cacagtaagt aaatacataa aaattttcat 720 actgacgggt ggtccagggg ccacggagcg gggagcagtt tggctatatg tttcgatcat 780 77 633 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(633) 77 ctg gac aag ata gaa gat gaa agg aat ctt tat gaa gat ttt gtg ttc 48 Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe 1 5 10 15 atg aaa aca tta cag aaa tgc aac aaa gga gag ggg gcc tta tcc tta 96 Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30 ctg aac tgt gag gaa att aaa agc cgg ttt gaa gcc ttt ctc aag gag 144 Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Arg Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu 35 40 45 ata atg cta aac aaa gaa acg aag aaa gaa aaa aat gtt gca atg caa 192 Ile Met Leu Asn Lys Glu Thr Lys Lys Glu Lys Asn Val Ala Met Gln 50 55 60 aaa ggc gac cag gat cct cga gtt gca gca cat gtc ata agt gag gcc 240 Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Val Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 agc agt agc aca gcg tct gtt ctc cag tgg gcc ccc aaa ggc tac tac 288 Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Val Leu Gln Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr 85 90 95 acc ata agc agc aac ttg gtg acc ctc gag aac ggg aag cag ctg gcc 336 Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Thr Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala 100 105 110 gtt aaa aga caa gga ctc tat tat atc tac gcc caa gtc acc ttc tgt 384 Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Ile Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys 115 120 125 tcc aat cgg gaa gct tcg agt caa gct ccg ttc ata gcc agc ctc tgc 432 Ser Asn Arg Glu Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser Leu Cys 130 135 140 ctg cat tcc ccg agt gga tcc gag aga gtc tta ctc aga gct gca aat 480 Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Ser Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Asn 145 150 155 160 gcc cgc agt tcc tcc aaa ccc tgt ggg cag caa tcc att cac ttg gga 528 Ala Arg Ser Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly 165 170 175 gga gtc ttc gaa ctg cat cca ggt gct tcg gtg ttc gtg aac gtg act 576 Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr 180 185 190 gat ccg agc caa gtg agc cac ggg acg ggc ttc acg tct ttt ggc ttg 624 Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu 195 200 205 ctc aaa ctc 633 Leu Lys Leu 210 78 211 PRT Felis catus 78 Leu Asp Lys Ile Glu Asp Glu Arg Asn Leu Tyr Glu Asp Phe Val Phe 1 5 10 15 Met Lys Thr Leu Gln Lys Cys Asn Lys Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Ser Leu 20 25 30 Leu Asn Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ser Arg Phe Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Glu 35 40 45 Ile Met Leu Asn Lys Glu Thr Lys Lys Glu Lys Asn Val Ala Met Gln 50 55 60 Lys Gly Asp Gln Asp Pro Arg Val Ala Ala His Val Ile Ser Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 Ser Ser Ser Thr Ala Ser Val Leu Gln Trp Ala Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr 85 90 95 Thr Ile Ser Ser Asn Leu Val Thr Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Gln Leu Ala 100 105 110 Val Lys Arg Gln Gly Leu Tyr Tyr Ile Tyr Ala Gln Val Thr Phe Cys 115 120 125 Ser Asn Arg Glu Ala Ser Ser Gln Ala Pro Phe Ile Ala Ser Leu Cys 130 135 140 Leu His Ser Pro Ser Gly Ser Glu Arg Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Ala Asn 145 150 155 160 Ala Arg Ser Ser Ser Lys Pro Cys Gly Gln Gln Ser Ile His Leu Gly 165 170 175 Gly Val Phe Glu Leu His Pro Gly Ala Ser Val Phe Val Asn Val Thr 180 185 190 Asp Pro Ser Gln Val Ser His Gly Thr Gly Phe Thr Ser Phe Gly Leu 195 200 205 Leu Lys Leu 210 79 633 DNA Felis catus 79 gagtttgagc aagccaaaag acgtgaagcc cgtcccgtgg ctcacttggc tcggatcagt 60 cacgttcacg aacaccgaag cacctggatg cagttcgaag actcctccca agtgaatgga 120 ttgctgccca cagggtttgg aggaactgcg ggcatttgca gctctgagta agactctctc 180 ggatccactc ggggaatgca ggcagaggct ggctatgaac ggagcttgac tcgaagcttc 240 ccgattggaa cagaaggtga cttgggcgta gatataatag agtccttgtc ttttaacggc 300 cagctgcttc ccgttctcga gggtcaccaa gttgctgctt atggtgtagt agcctttggg 360 ggcccactgg agaacagacg ctgtgctact gctggcctca cttatgacat gtgctgcaac 420 tcgaggatcc tggtcgcctt tttgcattgc aacatttttt tctttcttcg tttctttgtt 480 tagcattatc tccttgagaa aggcttcaaa ccggctttta atttcctcac agttcagtaa 540 ggataaggcc ccctctcctt tgttgcattt ctgtaatgtt ttcatgaaca caaaatcttc 600 ataaagattc ctttcatctt ctatcttgtc cag 633 80 610 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (29)..(430) 80 caaggcaaac actgaacatt tcagagct atg aga atg ctt ctg aat ttg agt 52 Met Arg Met Leu Leu Asn Leu Ser 1 5 ttg cta gct ctt ggg gct gcc tat gtt tct gcc ttt gct gta gaa aat 100 Leu Leu Ala Leu Gly Ala Ala Tyr Val Ser Ala Phe Ala Val Glu Asn 10 15 20 ccc atg aat aga ctg gtg gca gag acc ttg aca ctg ctc tcc act cat 148 Pro Met Asn Arg Leu Val Ala Glu Thr Leu Thr Leu Leu Ser Thr His 25 30 35 40 cga act tgg ctg ata ggc gat ggg aac ctg atg att cct act cct gaa 196 Arg Thr Trp Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly Asn Leu Met Ile Pro Thr Pro Glu 45 50 55 aat aaa aat cac caa ctg tgc att aaa gaa gtt ttt cag ggt ata gac 244 Asn Lys Asn His Gln Leu Cys Ile Lys Glu Val Phe Gln Gly Ile Asp 60 65 70 aca ttg aag aac caa act gcc cac ggg gag gct gtg gat aaa cta ttc 292 Thr Leu Lys Asn Gln Thr Ala His Gly Glu Ala Val Asp Lys Leu Phe 75 80 85 caa aac ttg tct tta ata aaa gaa cac ata gag cgc caa aaa aaa agg 340 Gln Asn Leu Ser Leu Ile Lys Glu His Ile Glu Arg Gln Lys Lys Arg 90 95 100 tgt gca gga gaa aga tgg aga gtg aca aag ttc cta gac tac ctg caa 388 Cys Ala Gly Glu Arg Trp Arg Val Thr Lys Phe Leu Asp Tyr Leu Gln 105 110 115 120 gta ttt ctt ggt gta ata aac acc gag tgg aca ccg gaa agt 430 Val Phe Leu Gly Val Ile Asn Thr Glu Trp Thr Pro Glu Ser 125 130 tgagaacaaa ccggcttatt gtagtggaag attttggaga agaatggttt tttggcgatg 490 agaatgaggg ccaaccaaca gtagggactt aatggccagt ataactaagc ttcagagaca 550 aagtaaatat ttcaggcatc ctactacttt atcacttcac acagatgaaa tatatttgag 610 81 134 PRT Canis familiaris 81 Met Arg Met Leu Leu Asn Leu Ser Leu Leu Ala Leu Gly Ala Ala Tyr 1 5 10 15 Val Ser Ala Phe Ala Val Glu Asn Pro Met Asn Arg Leu Val Ala Glu 20 25 30 Thr Leu Thr Leu Leu Ser Thr His Arg Thr Trp Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly 35 40 45 Asn Leu Met Ile Pro Thr Pro Glu Asn Lys Asn His Gln Leu Cys Ile 50 55 60 Lys Glu Val Phe Gln Gly Ile Asp Thr Leu Lys Asn Gln Thr Ala His 65 70 75 80 Gly Glu Ala Val Asp Lys Leu Phe Gln Asn Leu Ser Leu Ile Lys Glu 85 90 95 His Ile Glu Arg Gln Lys Lys Arg Cys Ala Gly Glu Arg Trp Arg Val 100 105 110 Thr Lys Phe Leu Asp Tyr Leu Gln Val Phe Leu Gly Val Ile Asn Thr 115 120 125 Glu Trp Thr Pro Glu Ser 130 82 610 DNA Canis familiaris 82 ctcaaatata tttcatctgt gtgaagtgat aaagtagtag gatgcctgaa atatttactt 60 tgtctctgaa gcttagttat actggccatt aagtccctac tgttggttgg ccctcattct 120 catcgccaaa aaaccattct tctccaaaat cttccactac aataagccgg tttgttctca 180 actttccggt gtccactcgg tgtttattac accaagaaat acttgcaggt agtctaggaa 240 ctttgtcact ctccatcttt ctcctgcaca cctttttttt tggcgctcta tgtgttcttt 300 tattaaagac aagttttgga atagtttatc cacagcctcc ccgtgggcag tttggttctt 360 caatgtgtct ataccctgaa aaacttcttt aatgcacagt tggtgatttt tattttcagg 420 agtaggaatc atcaggttcc catcgcctat cagccaagtt cgatgagtgg agagcagtgt 480 caaggtctct gccaccagtc tattcatggg attttctaca gcaaaggcag aaacataggc 540 agccccaaga gctagcaaac tcaaattcag aagcattctc atagctctga aatgttcagt 600 gtttgccttg 610 83 402 DNA Canis familiaris 83 atgagaatgc ttctgaattt gagtttgcta gctcttgggg ctgcctatgt ttctgccttt 60 gctgtagaaa atcccatgaa tagactggtg gcagagacct tgacactgct ctccactcat 120 cgaacttggc tgataggcga tgggaacctg atgattccta ctcctgaaaa taaaaatcac 180 caactgtgca ttaaagaagt ttttcagggt atagacacat tgaagaacca aactgcccac 240 ggggaggctg tggataaact attccaaaac ttgtctttaa taaaagaaca catagagcgc 300 caaaaaaaaa ggtgtgcagg agaaagatgg agagtgacaa agttcctaga ctacctgcaa 360 gtatttcttg gtgtaataaa caccgagtgg acaccggaaa gt 402 84 402 DNA Canis familiaris 84 actttccggt gtccactcgg tgtttattac accaagaaat acttgcaggt agtctaggaa 60 ctttgtcact ctccatcttt ctcctgcaca cctttttttt tggcgctcta tgtgttcttt 120 tattaaagac aagttttgga atagtttatc cacagcctcc ccgtgggcag tttggttctt 180 caatgtgtct ataccctgaa aaacttcttt aatgcacagt tggtgatttt tattttcagg 240 agtaggaatc atcaggttcc catcgcctat cagccaagtt cgatgagtgg agagcagtgt 300 caaggtctct gccaccagtc tattcatggg attttctaca gcaaaggcag aaacataggc 360 agccccaaga gctagcaaac tcaaattcag aagcattctc at 402 85 345 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(345) 85 ttt gct gta gaa aat ccc atg aat aga ctg gtg gca gag acc ttg aca 48 Phe Ala Val Glu Asn Pro Met Asn Arg Leu Val Ala Glu Thr Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 ctg ctc tcc act cat cga act tgg ctg ata ggc gat ggg aac ctg atg 96 Leu Leu Ser Thr His Arg Thr Trp Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly Asn Leu Met 20 25 30 att cct act cct gaa aat aaa aat cac caa ctg tgc att aaa gaa gtt 144 Ile Pro Thr Pro Glu Asn Lys Asn His Gln Leu Cys Ile Lys Glu Val 35 40 45 ttt cag ggt ata gac aca ttg aag aac caa act gcc cac ggg gag gct 192 Phe Gln Gly Ile Asp Thr Leu Lys Asn Gln Thr Ala His Gly Glu Ala 50 55 60 gtg gat aaa cta ttc caa aac ttg tct tta ata aaa gaa cac ata gag 240 Val Asp Lys Leu Phe Gln Asn Leu Ser Leu Ile Lys Glu His Ile Glu 65 70 75 80 cgc caa aaa aaa agg tgt gca gga gaa aga tgg aga gtg aca aag ttc 288 Arg Gln Lys Lys Arg Cys Ala Gly Glu Arg Trp Arg Val Thr Lys Phe 85 90 95 cta gac tac ctg caa gta ttt ctt ggt gta ata aac acc gag tgg aca 336 Leu Asp Tyr Leu Gln Val Phe Leu Gly Val Ile Asn Thr Glu Trp Thr 100 105 110 ccg gaa agt 345 Pro Glu Ser 115 86 115 PRT Canis familiaris 86 Phe Ala Val Glu Asn Pro Met Asn Arg Leu Val Ala Glu Thr Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Ser Thr His Arg Thr Trp Leu Ile Gly Asp Gly Asn Leu Met 20 25 30 Ile Pro Thr Pro Glu Asn Lys Asn His Gln Leu Cys Ile Lys Glu Val 35 40 45 Phe Gln Gly Ile Asp Thr Leu Lys Asn Gln Thr Ala His Gly Glu Ala 50 55 60 Val Asp Lys Leu Phe Gln Asn Leu Ser Leu Ile Lys Glu His Ile Glu 65 70 75 80 Arg Gln Lys Lys Arg Cys Ala Gly Glu Arg Trp Arg Val Thr Lys Phe 85 90 95 Leu Asp Tyr Leu Gln Val Phe Leu Gly Val Ile Asn Thr Glu Trp Thr 100 105 110 Pro Glu Ser 115 87 345 DNA Canis familiaris 87 actttccggt gtccactcgg tgtttattac accaagaaat acttgcaggt agtctaggaa 60 ctttgtcact ctccatcttt ctcctgcaca cctttttttt tggcgctcta tgtgttcttt 120 tattaaagac aagttttgga atagtttatc cacagcctcc ccgtgggcag tttggttctt 180 caatgtgtct ataccctgaa aaacttcttt aatgcacagt tggtgatttt tattttcagg 240 agtaggaatc atcaggttcc catcgcctat cagccaagtt cgatgagtgg agagcagtgt 300 caaggtctct gccaccagtc tattcatggg attttctaca gcaaa 345 88 166 DNA Canis familiaris 88 ctcagcttag gccagcctac gacctgcctg ctcttccctc gctcctcctg cattggctct 60 gggctccatg gcgctctggt tgactgtggt cattgctctc acctgcctcg gtggccttgc 120 ctccccgagc cctgtgactc cctccccaac cctcaaggag ctcatt 166 89 272 DNA Canis familiaris 89 tggccttgcc tccccgagcc ctgtgactcc ctccccaacc ctcaaggagc tcattgagga 60 gctggtcaac atcacccaga atcaggcatc cctctgcaac ggcagcatgg tgtggagcgt 120 caacctgacc gccggcatgt actgcgcagc tctagaatct ctgatcaatg tctccgactg 180 cagcgccatc caaaggaccc agaggatgct gaaagcactg tgctctcaaa agcccgcggc 240 agggcagatt tccagtgaac gcagccgaga ca 272 90 278 DNA Canis familiaris 90 atggcgctct ggttgactgt ggtcattgct ctcacctgcc tcggtggcct tgcctccccg 60 agccctgtga ctccctcccc aaccctcaag gagctcattg aggagctggt caacatcacc 120 cagaatcagg catccctctg caacggcagc atggtgtgga gcgtcaacct gaccgccggc 180 atgtactgcg cagctctaga atctctgatc aatgtctccg actgcagcgc catccaaagg 240 acccagagga tgctgaaagc actgtgctct caaaagcc 278 91 1302 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (52)..(444) 91 ctacgacctg cctgctcttc cctcgctcct cctgcattgg ctctgggctc c atg gcg 57 Met Ala 1 ctc tgg ttg act gtg gtc att gct ctc acc tgc ctc ggt ggc ctt gcc 105 Leu Trp Leu Thr Val Val Ile Ala Leu Thr Cys Leu Gly Gly Leu Ala 5 10 15 tcc ccg agc cct gtg act ccc tcc cca acc ctc aag gag ctc att gag 153 Ser Pro Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu 20 25 30 gag ctg gtc aac atc acc cag aat cag gca tcc ctc tgc aac ggc agc 201 Glu Leu Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Ser 35 40 45 50 atg gtg tgg agc gtc aac ctg acc gcc ggc atg tac tgc gca gct cta 249 Met Val Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala Leu 55 60 65 gaa tct ctg atc aat gtc tcc gac tgc agc gcc atc caa agg acc cag 297 Glu Ser Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Gln 70 75 80 agg atg ctg aaa gca ctg tgc tct caa aag ccc gcg gca ggg cag att 345 Arg Met Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Gln Ile 85 90 95 tcc agt gaa cgc agc cga gac acc aaa att gaa gtg atc cag ttg gtg 393 Ser Ser Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val 100 105 110 aaa aac ctg ctc acc tat gta agg gga gtt tat cgc cat gga aat ttc 441 Lys Asn Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe 115 120 125 130 aga tgaagcatga aaacttagca tccttatctg tagacccaga cctgaccact 494 Arg taagttccag attcattttt ctttccgacg tcacaaattt cttagggagg tggggggggg 554 ggagaaccat ttcctcagct gggacctcag cctgcaccgc ctgcctccat ggagctgagc 614 ccagccaccc ctgccttggt gcatggggcc cagccgggtg gccctcctcc gtctgcactt 674 catcaacgct gagggaaagc actgcatccc atgactgtcc cctcctcaga gcaaagtgca 734 gcattacagt ggaggcagat atgtgtggga gggggtcttg ctgtacctgg gagtggcaca 794 gacatgtttc ttcttagcct tatttattat tgtgtgttat ttaaacaagt gtctttgttt 854 gtgctgggga cagggagtgg cttggagctg ggggcccagt gactcgggtt tagagagtcc 914 ctgggaataa gcactgtgtg taaaattctg ctacctcact gggatcctgg ggccgacaca 974 ggggacagga gaaagggtca gagatgctgc tcttgtctgc cactcagcag ctggccctca 1034 gccaagcagt aatttattgt ttttccttgt atttaaagtt aagaaataaa atatgttatc 1094 aaagagttaa taatatatag aagagtagcc taaaaggctg catttggtgt gtgtggccag 1154 gccggggcgg gtggggggga gggtgttgtc actgaatgtg ctctttcact gactttgtca 1214 aactggaagc cagaaataaa gatggtgaca agagaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1274 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1302 92 131 PRT Canis familiaris 92 Met Ala Leu Trp Leu Thr Val Val Ile Ala Leu Thr Cys Leu Gly Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu 20 25 30 Ile Glu Glu Leu Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn 35 40 45 Gly Ser Met Val Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala 50 55 60 Ala Leu Glu Ser Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg 65 70 75 80 Thr Gln Arg Met Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly 85 90 95 Gln Ile Ser Ser Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln 100 105 110 Leu Val Lys Asn Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly 115 120 125 Asn Phe Arg 130 93 1302 DNA Canis familiaris 93 tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt tttttttttt ttttctcttg 60 tcaccatctt tatttctggc ttccagtttg acaaagtcag tgaaagagca cattcagtga 120 caacaccctc ccccccaccc gccccggcct ggccacacac accaaatgca gccttttagg 180 ctactcttct atatattatt aactctttga taacatattt tatttcttaa ctttaaatac 240 aaggaaaaac aataaattac tgcttggctg agggccagct gctgagtggc agacaagagc 300 agcatctctg accctttctc ctgtcccctg tgtcggcccc aggatcccag tgaggtagca 360 gaattttaca cacagtgctt attcccaggg actctctaaa cccgagtcac tgggccccca 420 gctccaagcc actccctgtc cccagcacaa acaaagacac ttgtttaaat aacacacaat 480 aataaataag gctaagaaga aacatgtctg tgccactccc aggtacagca agaccccctc 540 ccacacatat ctgcctccac tgtaatgctg cactttgctc tgaggagggg acagtcatgg 600 gatgcagtgc tttccctcag cgttgatgaa gtgcagacgg aggagggcca cccggctggg 660 ccccatgcac caaggcaggg gtggctgggc tcagctccat ggaggcaggc ggtgcaggct 720 gaggtcccag ctgaggaaat ggttctcccc cccccccacc tccctaagaa atttgtgacg 780 tcggaaagaa aaatgaatct ggaacttaag tggtcaggtc tgggtctaca gataaggatg 840 ctaagttttc atgcttcatc tgaaatttcc atggcgataa actcccctta cataggtgag 900 caggtttttc accaactgga tcacttcaat tttggtgtct cggctgcgtt cactggaaat 960 ctgccctgcc gcgggctttt gagagcacag tgctttcagc atcctctggg tcctttggat 1020 ggcgctgcag tcggagacat tgatcagaga ttctagagct gcgcagtaca tgccggcggt 1080 caggttgacg ctccacacca tgctgccgtt gcagagggat gcctgattct gggtgatgtt 1140 gaccagctcc tcaatgagct ccttgagggt tggggaggga gtcacagggc tcggggaggc 1200 aaggccaccg aggcaggtga gagcaatgac cacagtcaac cagagcgcca tggagcccag 1260 agccaatgca ggaggagcga gggaagagca ggcaggtcgt ag 1302 94 393 DNA Canis familiaris 94 atggcgctct ggttgactgt ggtcattgct ctcacctgcc tcggtggcct tgcctccccg 60 agccctgtga ctccctcccc aaccctcaag gagctcattg aggagctggt caacatcacc 120 cagaatcagg catccctctg caacggcagc atggtgtgga gcgtcaacct gaccgccggc 180 atgtactgcg cagctctaga atctctgatc aatgtctccg actgcagcgc catccaaagg 240 acccagagga tgctgaaagc actgtgctct caaaagcccg cggcagggca gatttccagt 300 gaacgcagcc gagacaccaa aattgaagtg atccagttgg tgaaaaacct gctcacctat 360 gtaaggggag tttatcgcca tggaaatttc aga 393 95 393 DNA Canis familiaris 95 tctgaaattt ccatggcgat aaactcccct tacataggtg agcaggtttt tcaccaactg 60 gatcacttca attttggtgt ctcggctgcg ttcactggaa atctgccctg ccgcgggctt 120 ttgagagcac agtgctttca gcatcctctg ggtcctttgg atggcgctgc agtcggagac 180 attgatcaga gattctagag ctgcgcagta catgccggcg gtcaggttga cgctccacac 240 catgctgccg ttgcagaggg atgcctgatt ctgggtgatg ttgaccagct cctcaatgag 300 ctccttgagg gttggggagg gagtcacagg gctcggggag gcaaggccac cgaggcaggt 360 gagagcaatg accacagtca accagagcgc cat 393 96 333 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(333) 96 agc cct gtg act ccc tcc cca acc ctc aag gag ctc att gag gag ctg 48 Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 gtc aac atc acc cag aat cag gca tcc ctc tgc aac ggc agc atg gtg 96 Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Ser Met Val 20 25 30 tgg agc gtc aac ctg acc gcc ggc atg tac tgc gca gct cta gaa tct 144 Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala Leu Glu Ser 35 40 45 ctg atc aat gtc tcc gac tgc agc gcc atc caa agg acc cag agg atg 192 Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Gln Arg Met 50 55 60 ctg aaa gca ctg tgc tct caa aag ccc gcg gca ggg cag att tcc agt 240 Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Gln Ile Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 gaa cgc agc cga gac acc aaa att gaa gtg atc cag ttg gtg aaa aac 288 Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val Lys Asn 85 90 95 ctg ctc acc tat gta agg gga gtt tat cgc cat gga aat ttc aga 333 Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe Arg 100 105 110 97 111 PRT Canis familiaris 97 Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Ser Met Val 20 25 30 Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala Leu Glu Ser 35 40 45 Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Gln Arg Met 50 55 60 Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Gln Ile Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val Lys Asn 85 90 95 Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe Arg 100 105 110 98 333 DNA Canis familiaris 98 tctgaaattt ccatggcgat aaactcccct tacataggtg agcaggtttt tcaccaactg 60 gatcacttca attttggtgt ctcggctgcg ttcactggaa atctgccctg ccgcgggctt 120 ttgagagcac agtgctttca gcatcctctg ggtcctttgg atggcgctgc agtcggagac 180 attgatcaga gattctagag ctgcgcagta catgccggcg gtcaggttga cgctccacac 240 catgctgccg ttgcagaggg atgcctgatt ctgggtgatg ttgaccagct cctcaatgag 300 ctccttgagg gttggggagg gagtcacagg gct 333 99 1269 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (57)..(446) 99 ccagcctacg acctgcctgc tcttccctcg ctcctcctgc attggctctg ggctcc atg 59 Met 1 gcg ctc tgg ttg act gtg gtc att gct ctc acc tgc ctc ggt ggc ctt 107 Ala Leu Trp Leu Thr Val Val Ile Ala Leu Thr Cys Leu Gly Gly Leu 5 10 15 gcc tcc ccg agc cct gtg act ccc tcc cca acc ctc aag gag ctc att 155 Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile 20 25 30 gag gag ctg gtc aac atc acc cag aat cag gca tcc ctc tgc aac ggc 203 Glu Glu Leu Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly 35 40 45 agc atg gtg tgg agc gtc aac ctg acc gcc ggc atg tac tgc gca gct 251 Ser Met Val Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala 50 55 60 65 cta gaa tct ctg atc aat gtc tcc gac tgc agc gcc atc caa agg acc 299 Leu Glu Ser Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr 70 75 80 cag agg atg ctg aaa gca ctg tgc tct caa aag ccc gcg gca ggg att 347 Gln Arg Met Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Ile 85 90 95 tcc agt gaa cgc agc cga gac acc aaa att gaa gtg atc cag ttg gtg 395 Ser Ser Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val 100 105 110 aaa aac ctg ctc acc tat gta agg gga gtt tat cgc cat gga aat ttc 443 Lys Asn Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe 115 120 125 aga tgaagcatga aaacttagca tccttatctg tagacccaga cctgaccact 496 Arg 130 taagttccag attcattttt ctttccgacg tcacaaattt cttagggagg tggggggggg 556 ggagaaccat ttcctcagct gggacctcag cctgcaccgc ctgcctccat ggagctgagc 616 ccagccaccc ctgccttggt gcatggggcc cagccgggtg gccctcctcc gtctgcactt 676 catcaacgct gagggaaagc actgcatccc atgactgtcc cctcctcaga gcaaagtgca 736 gcattacagt ggaggcagat atgtgtggga gggggtcttg ctgtacctgg gagtggcaca 796 gacatgtttc ttcttagcct tatttattat tgtgtgttat ttaaacaagt gtctttgttt 856 gtgctgggga cagggagtgg cttggagctg ggggcccagt gactcgggtt tagagagtcc 916 ctgggaataa gcactgtgtg taaaattctg ctacctcact gggatcctgg ggccgacaca 976 ggggacagga gaaagggtca gagatgctgc tcttgtctgc cactcagcag ctggccctca 1036 gccaagcagt aatttattgt ttttccttgt atttaaagtt aagaaataaa atatgttatc 1096 aaagagttaa taatatatag aagagtagcc taaaaggctg catttggtgt gtgtggccag 1156 gccggggcgg gtggggggga gggtgttgtc actgaatgtg ctctttcact gactttgtca 1216 aactggaagc cagaaataaa gatggtgaca agagaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaa 1269 100 130 PRT Canis familiaris 100 Met Ala Leu Trp Leu Thr Val Val Ile Ala Leu Thr Cys Leu Gly Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu 20 25 30 Ile Glu Glu Leu Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn 35 40 45 Gly Ser Met Val Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala 50 55 60 Ala Leu Glu Ser Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg 65 70 75 80 Thr Gln Arg Met Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly 85 90 95 Ile Ser Ser Glu Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu 100 105 110 Val Lys Asn Leu Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn 115 120 125 Phe Arg 130 101 1269 DNA Canis familiaris 101 tttttttttt tttttttttc tcttgtcacc atctttattt ctggcttcca gtttgacaaa 60 gtcagtgaaa gagcacattc agtgacaaca ccctcccccc cacccgcccc ggcctggcca 120 cacacaccaa atgcagcctt ttaggctact cttctatata ttattaactc tttgataaca 180 tattttattt cttaacttta aatacaagga aaaacaataa attactgctt ggctgagggc 240 cagctgctga gtggcagaca agagcagcat ctctgaccct ttctcctgtc ccctgtgtcg 300 gccccaggat cccagtgagg tagcagaatt ttacacacag tgcttattcc cagggactct 360 ctaaacccga gtcactgggc ccccagctcc aagccactcc ctgtccccag cacaaacaaa 420 gacacttgtt taaataacac acaataataa ataaggctaa gaagaaacat gtctgtgcca 480 ctcccaggta cagcaagacc ccctcccaca catatctgcc tccactgtaa tgctgcactt 540 tgctctgagg aggggacagt catgggatgc agtgctttcc ctcagcgttg atgaagtgca 600 gacggaggag ggccacccgg ctgggcccca tgcaccaagg caggggtggc tgggctcagc 660 tccatggagg caggcggtgc aggctgaggt cccagctgag gaaatggttc tccccccccc 720 ccacctccct aagaaatttg tgacgtcgga aagaaaaatg aatctggaac ttaagtggtc 780 aggtctgggt ctacagataa ggatgctaag ttttcatgct tcatctgaaa tttccatggc 840 gataaactcc ccttacatag gtgagcaggt ttttcaccaa ctggatcact tcaattttgg 900 tgtctcggct gcgttcactg gaaatccctg ccgcgggctt ttgagagcac agtgctttca 960 gcatcctctg ggtcctttgg atggcgctgc agtcggagac attgatcaga gattctagag 1020 ctgcgcagta catgccggcg gtcaggttga cgctccacac catgctgccg ttgcagaggg 1080 atgcctgatt ctgggtgatg ttgaccagct cctcaatgag ctccttgagg gttggggagg 1140 gagtcacagg gctcggggag gcaaggccac cgaggcaggt gagagcaatg accacagtca 1200 accagagcgc catggagccc agagccaatg caggaggagc gagggaagag caggcaggtc 1260 gtaggctgg 1269 102 390 DNA Canis familiaris 102 atggcgctct ggttgactgt ggtcattgct ctcacctgcc tcggtggcct tgcctccccg 60 agccctgtga ctccctcccc aaccctcaag gagctcattg aggagctggt caacatcacc 120 cagaatcagg catccctctg caacggcagc atggtgtgga gcgtcaacct gaccgccggc 180 atgtactgcg cagctctaga atctctgatc aatgtctccg actgcagcgc catccaaagg 240 acccagagga tgctgaaagc actgtgctct caaaagcccg cggcagggat ttccagtgaa 300 cgcagccgag acaccaaaat tgaagtgatc cagttggtga aaaacctgct cacctatgta 360 aggggagttt atcgccatgg aaatttcaga 390 103 390 DNA Canis familiaris 103 tctgaaattt ccatggcgat aaactcccct tacataggtg agcaggtttt tcaccaactg 60 gatcacttca attttggtgt ctcggctgcg ttcactggaa atccctgccg cgggcttttg 120 agagcacagt gctttcagca tcctctgggt cctttggatg gcgctgcagt cggagacatt 180 gatcagagat tctagagctg cgcagtacat gccggcggtc aggttgacgc tccacaccat 240 gctgccgttg cagagggatg cctgattctg ggtgatgttg accagctcct caatgagctc 300 cttgagggtt ggggagggag tcacagggct cggggaggca aggccaccga ggcaggtgag 360 agcaatgacc acagtcaacc agagcgccat 390 104 330 DNA Canis familiaris CDS (1)..(330) 104 agc cct gtg act ccc tcc cca acc ctc aag gag ctc att gag gag ctg 48 Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 gtc aac atc acc cag aat cag gca tcc ctc tgc aac ggc agc atg gtg 96 Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Ser Met Val 20 25 30 tgg agc gtc aac ctg acc gcc ggc atg tac tgc gca gct cta gaa tct 144 Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala Leu Glu Ser 35 40 45 ctg atc aat gtc tcc gac tgc agc gcc atc caa agg acc cag agg atg 192 Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Gln Arg Met 50 55 60 ctg aaa gca ctg tgc tct caa aag ccc gcg gca ggg att tcc agt gaa 240 Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Ile Ser Ser Glu 65 70 75 80 cgc agc cga gac acc aaa att gaa gtg atc cag ttg gtg aaa aac ctg 288 Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val Lys Asn Leu 85 90 95 ctc acc tat gta agg gga gtt tat cgc cat gga aat ttc aga 330 Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe Arg 100 105 110 105 110 PRT Canis familiaris 105 Ser Pro Val Thr Pro Ser Pro Thr Leu Lys Glu Leu Ile Glu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Val Asn Ile Thr Gln Asn Gln Ala Ser Leu Cys Asn Gly Ser Met Val 20 25 30 Trp Ser Val Asn Leu Thr Ala Gly Met Tyr Cys Ala Ala Leu Glu Ser 35 40 45 Leu Ile Asn Val Ser Asp Cys Ser Ala Ile Gln Arg Thr Gln Arg Met 50 55 60 Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Ser Gln Lys Pro Ala Ala Gly Ile Ser Ser Glu 65 70 75 80 Arg Ser Arg Asp Thr Lys Ile Glu Val Ile Gln Leu Val Lys Asn Leu 85 90 95 Leu Thr Tyr Val Arg Gly Val Tyr Arg His Gly Asn Phe Arg 100 105 110 106 330 DNA Canis familiaris 106 tctgaaattt ccatggcgat aaactcccct tacataggtg agcaggtttt tcaccaactg 60 gatcacttca attttggtgt ctcggctgcg ttcactggaa atccctgccg cgggcttttg 120 agagcacagt gctttcagca tcctctgggt cctttggatg gcgctgcagt cggagacatt 180 gatcagagat tctagagctg cgcagtacat gccggcggtc aggttgacgc tccacaccat 240 gctgccgttg cagagggatg cctgattctg ggtgatgttg accagctcct caatgagctc 300 cttgagggtt ggggagggag tcacagggct 330 107 567 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(567) 107 atg gcg ctg ccc tct tcc ttc ttg gtg gcc ctg gtg gcg ctg ggc tgc 48 Met Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Phe Leu Val Ala Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Cys 1 5 10 15 aac tcc gtc tgc tct ctg ggc tgt gac ctg cct cag acc cac ggc ctg 96 Asn Ser Val Cys Ser Leu Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu 20 25 30 ctg aac agg agg gcc ttg acg ctc ctg gga caa atg agg aga ctc cct 144 Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro 35 40 45 gcc agc tcc tgt cag aag gac aga aat gac ttc gcc ttc ccc cag gac 192 Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp 50 55 60 gtg ttt ggt gga gac cag tcc cac aag gcc caa gcc ctc tcg gtg gtg 240 Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val 65 70 75 80 cac gtg acg aac cag aag atc ttc cac ttc ttc tgc aca gag gcg tcc 288 His Val Thr Asn Gln Lys Ile Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser 85 90 95 tcg tct gct gct tgg aac acc acc ctc ctg gag gaa ttc tgc acg gga 336 Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly 100 105 110 ctt gat tgg cag ctg acc cgc ctg gaa gcc tgt gtc atg cag gag gtg 384 Leu Asp Trp Gln Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Met Gln Glu Val 115 120 125 ggg gag gga gag gct ccc ctc acg aac gag gac tcc atc ctg agg aac 432 Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Ile Leu Arg Asn 130 135 140 tac ttc caa aga ctc tcc ctc tac ctg caa gag aag aaa tac agc cct 480 Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro 145 150 155 160 tgt gcc tgg gag atc gtc aga gca gaa atc atg aga tcc ttg tat tat 528 Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr 165 170 175 tca tca aca gcc ttg cag aaa aga tta agg agc gag aaa 567 Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 180 185 108 189 PRT Felis catus 108 Met Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Phe Leu Val Ala Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Cys 1 5 10 15 Asn Ser Val Cys Ser Leu Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu 20 25 30 Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro 35 40 45 Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp 50 55 60 Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val 65 70 75 80 His Val Thr Asn Gln Lys Ile Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser 85 90 95 Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly 100 105 110 Leu Asp Trp Gln Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Met Gln Glu Val 115 120 125 Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Ile Leu Arg Asn 130 135 140 Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro 145 150 155 160 Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr 165 170 175 Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 180 185 109 567 DNA Felis catus 109 tttctcgctc cttaatcttt tctgcaaggc tgttgatgaa taatacaagg atctcatgat 60 ttctgctctg acgatctccc aggcacaagg gctgtatttc ttctcttgca ggtagaggga 120 gagtctttgg aagtagttcc tcaggatgga gtcctcgttc gtgaggggag cctctccctc 180 ccccacctcc tgcatgacac aggcttccag gcgggtcagc tgccaatcaa gtcccgtgca 240 gaattcctcc aggagggtgg tgttccaagc agcagacgag gacgcctctg tgcagaagaa 300 gtggaagatc ttctggttcg tcacgtgcac caccgagagg gcttgggcct tgtgggactg 360 gtctccacca aacacgtcct gggggaaggc gaagtcattt ctgtccttct gacaggagct 420 ggcagggagt ctcctcattt gtcccaggag cgtcaaggcc ctcctgttca gcaggccgtg 480 ggtctgaggc aggtcacagc ccagagagca gacggagttg cagcccagcg ccaccagggc 540 caccaagaag gaagagggca gcgccat 567 110 567 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(567) 110 atg gcg ctg ccc tct tcc ttc ttg gtg gcc ctg gtg gcg ctg ggc tgc 48 Met Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Phe Leu Val Ala Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Cys 1 5 10 15 aac tcc gtc tgc tct ctg ggc tgt gac ctg cct cag acc cac ggc ctg 96 Asn Ser Val Cys Ser Leu Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu 20 25 30 ctg aac agg agg gcc ttg acg ctc ctg gga caa atg agg aga ctc cct 144 Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro 35 40 45 gcc agc tcc tgt cag aag gac agg aat gac ttc gcc ttc ccc cag gac 192 Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp 50 55 60 gtg ttc ggt gga gac cag tcc cac aag gct caa gcc ctc tcg gtg gtg 240 Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val 65 70 75 80 cac gtg acg aac cag gag atc ttc cac ttc ttc tgc aca gag gcg tcc 288 His Val Thr Asn Gln Glu Ile Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser 85 90 95 tcg tct gct gct tgg aac acc acc ctc ctg gag gaa ttc tgc acg gga 336 Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly 100 105 110 ctt gat cgg cag ctg acc cgc ctg gaa gcc tgt gtc gtg cag gag gtg 384 Leu Asp Arg Gln Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Val Gln Glu Val 115 120 125 ggg gag gga gag gct ccc ctc acg aac gag gac tcc ctc ctg agg aac 432 Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Leu Leu Arg Asn 130 135 140 tac ttc caa aga ctc tcc ctc tac ctg caa gag aag aaa tac agc cct 480 Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro 145 150 155 160 tgt gcc tgg gag atc gtc aga gca gaa atc atg aga tcc ttg tat tat 528 Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr 165 170 175 tca tca aca gcc ttg caa aaa aga tta agg agc gag aaa 567 Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 180 185 111 189 PRT Felis catus 111 Met Ala Leu Pro Ser Ser Phe Leu Val Ala Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Cys 1 5 10 15 Asn Ser Val Cys Ser Leu Gly Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu 20 25 30 Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro 35 40 45 Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp 50 55 60 Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val 65 70 75 80 His Val Thr Asn Gln Glu Ile Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser 85 90 95 Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly 100 105 110 Leu Asp Arg Gln Leu Thr Arg Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Val Gln Glu Val 115 120 125 Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Leu Leu Arg Asn 130 135 140 Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro 145 150 155 160 Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr 165 170 175 Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 180 185 112 567 DNA Felis catus 112 tttctcgctc cttaatcttt tttgcaaggc tgttgatgaa taatacaagg atctcatgat 60 ttctgctctg acgatctccc aggcacaagg gctgtatttc ttctcttgca ggtagaggga 120 gagtctttgg aagtagttcc tcaggaggga gtcctcgttc gtgaggggag cctctccctc 180 ccccacctcc tgcacgacac aggcttccag gcgggtcagc tgccgatcaa gtcccgtgca 240 gaattcctcc aggagggtgg tgttccaagc agcagacgag gacgcctctg tgcagaagaa 300 gtggaagatc tcctggttcg tcacgtgcac caccgagagg gcttgagcct tgtgggactg 360 gtctccaccg aacacgtcct gggggaaggc gaagtcattc ctgtccttct gacaggagct 420 ggcagggagt ctcctcattt gtcccaggag cgtcaaggcc ctcctgttca gcaggccgtg 480 ggtctgaggc aggtcacagc ccagagagca gacggagttg cagcccagcg ccaccagggc 540 caccaagaag gaagagggca gcgccat 567 113 498 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(498) 113 tgt gac ctg cct cag acc cac ggc ctg ctg aac agg agg gcc ttg acg 48 Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 ctc ctg gga caa atg agg aga ctc cct gcc agc tcc tgt cag aag gac 96 Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp 20 25 30 aga aat gac ttc gcc ttc ccc cag gac gtg ttt ggt gga gac cag tcc 144 Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser 35 40 45 cac aag gcc caa gcc ctc tcg gtg gtg cac gtg acg aac cag aag atc 192 His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val His Val Thr Asn Gln Lys Ile 50 55 60 ttc cac ttc ttc tgc aca gag gcg tcc tcg tct gct gct tgg aac acc 240 Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr 65 70 75 80 acc ctc ctg gag gaa ttc tgc acg gga ctt gat tgg cag ctg acc cgc 288 Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly Leu Asp Trp Gln Leu Thr Arg 85 90 95 ctg gaa gcc tgt gtc atg cag gag gtg ggg gag gga gag gct ccc ctc 336 Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Met Gln Glu Val Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu 100 105 110 acg aac gag gac tcc atc ctg agg aac tac ttc caa aga ctc tcc ctc 384 Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Ile Leu Arg Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu 115 120 125 tac ctg caa gag aag aaa tac agc cct tgt gcc tgg gag atc gtc aga 432 Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg 130 135 140 gca gaa atc atg aga tcc ttg tat tat tca tca aca gcc ttg cag aaa 480 Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys 145 150 155 160 aga tta agg agc gag aaa 498 Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 165 114 166 PRT Felis catus 114 Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp 20 25 30 Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser 35 40 45 His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val His Val Thr Asn Gln Lys Ile 50 55 60 Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly Leu Asp Trp Gln Leu Thr Arg 85 90 95 Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Met Gln Glu Val Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu 100 105 110 Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Ile Leu Arg Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu 115 120 125 Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg 130 135 140 Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys 145 150 155 160 Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 165 115 498 DNA Felis catus 115 tttctcgctc cttaatcttt tctgcaaggc tgttgatgaa taatacaagg atctcatgat 60 ttctgctctg acgatctccc aggcacaagg gctgtatttc ttctcttgca ggtagaggga 120 gagtctttgg aagtagttcc tcaggatgga gtcctcgttc gtgaggggag cctctccctc 180 ccccacctcc tgcatgacac aggcttccag gcgggtcagc tgccaatcaa gtcccgtgca 240 gaattcctcc aggagggtgg tgttccaagc agcagacgag gacgcctctg tgcagaagaa 300 gtggaagatc ttctggttcg tcacgtgcac caccgagagg gcttgggcct tgtgggactg 360 gtctccacca aacacgtcct gggggaaggc gaagtcattt ctgtccttct gacaggagct 420 ggcagggagt ctcctcattt gtcccaggag cgtcaaggcc ctcctgttca gcaggccgtg 480 ggtctgaggc aggtcaca 498 116 498 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(498) 116 tgt gac ctg cct cag acc cac ggc ctg ctg aac agg agg gcc ttg acg 48 Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 ctc ctg gga caa atg agg aga ctc cct gcc agc tcc tgt cag aag gac 96 Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp 20 25 30 agg aat gac ttc gcc ttc ccc cag gac gtg ttc ggt gga gac cag tcc 144 Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser 35 40 45 cac aag gct caa gcc ctc tcg gtg gtg cac gtg acg aac cag gag atc 192 His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val His Val Thr Asn Gln Glu Ile 50 55 60 ttc cac ttc ttc tgc aca gag gcg tcc tcg tct gct gct tgg aac acc 240 Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr 65 70 75 80 acc ctc ctg gag gaa ttc tgc acg gga ctt gat cgg cag ctg acc cgc 288 Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Leu Thr Arg 85 90 95 ctg gaa gcc tgt gtc gtg cag gag gtg ggg gag gga gag gct ccc ctc 336 Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Val Gln Glu Val Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu 100 105 110 acg aac gag gac tcc ctc ctg agg aac tac ttc caa aga ctc tcc ctc 384 Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Leu Leu Arg Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu 115 120 125 tac ctg caa gag aag aaa tac agc cct tgt gcc tgg gag atc gtc aga 432 Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg 130 135 140 gca gaa atc atg aga tcc ttg tat tat tca tca aca gcc ttg caa aaa 480 Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys 145 150 155 160 aga tta agg agc gag aaa 498 Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 165 117 166 PRT Felis catus 117 Cys Asp Leu Pro Gln Thr His Gly Leu Leu Asn Arg Arg Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Gly Gln Met Arg Arg Leu Pro Ala Ser Ser Cys Gln Lys Asp 20 25 30 Arg Asn Asp Phe Ala Phe Pro Gln Asp Val Phe Gly Gly Asp Gln Ser 35 40 45 His Lys Ala Gln Ala Leu Ser Val Val His Val Thr Asn Gln Glu Ile 50 55 60 Phe His Phe Phe Cys Thr Glu Ala Ser Ser Ser Ala Ala Trp Asn Thr 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Cys Thr Gly Leu Asp Arg Gln Leu Thr Arg 85 90 95 Leu Glu Ala Cys Val Val Gln Glu Val Gly Glu Gly Glu Ala Pro Leu 100 105 110 Thr Asn Glu Asp Ser Leu Leu Arg Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Leu Ser Leu 115 120 125 Tyr Leu Gln Glu Lys Lys Tyr Ser Pro Cys Ala Trp Glu Ile Val Arg 130 135 140 Ala Glu Ile Met Arg Ser Leu Tyr Tyr Ser Ser Thr Ala Leu Gln Lys 145 150 155 160 Arg Leu Arg Ser Glu Lys 165 118 498 DNA Felis catus 118 tttctcgctc cttaatcttt tttgcaaggc tgttgatgaa taatacaagg atctcatgat 60 ttctgctctg acgatctccc aggcacaagg gctgtatttc ttctcttgca ggtagaggga 120 gagtctttgg aagtagttcc tcaggaggga gtcctcgttc gtgaggggag cctctccctc 180 ccccacctcc tgcacgacac aggcttccag gcgggtcagc tgccgatcaa gtcccgtgca 240 gaattcctcc aggagggtgg tgttccaagc agcagacgag gacgcctctg tgcagaagaa 300 gtggaagatc tcctggttcg tcacgtgcac caccgagagg gcttgagcct tgtgggactg 360 gtctccaccg aacacgtcct gggggaaggc gaagtcattc ctgtccttct gacaggagct 420 ggcagggagt ctcctcattt gtcccaggag cgtcaaggcc ctcctgttca gcaggccgtg 480 ggtctgaggc aggtcaca 498 119 444 DNA Felis catus CDS (10)..(441) 119 ggatccacc atg tgg ctg cag aac ctg ctt ttc ctg ggc act gtg gtc tgc 51 Met Trp Leu Gln Asn Leu Leu Phe Leu Gly Thr Val Val Cys 1 5 10 agc atc tct gca ccc acc agt tca ccc agc tct gtc act cgg ccc tgg 99 Ser Ile Ser Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Val Thr Arg Pro Trp 15 20 25 30 caa cac gtg gat gcc atc aag gag gcc ctg agc ctt ctg aac aac agt 147 Gln His Val Asp Ala Ile Lys Glu Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser 35 40 45 agt gaa ata act gct gtg atg aat gaa gca gta gaa gtc gtc tct gaa 195 Ser Glu Ile Thr Ala Val Met Asn Glu Ala Val Glu Val Val Ser Glu 50 55 60 atg ttt gac cct gag gag ccg aaa tgc ctg cag act cac cta aag ctg 243 Met Phe Asp Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Cys Leu Gln Thr His Leu Lys Leu 65 70 75 tac gag cag ggc cta cgg ggc agc ctc atc agc ctc aag gag cct ctg 291 Tyr Glu Gln Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Lys Glu Pro Leu 80 85 90 aga atg atg gcc aac cat tac aag cag cac tgc ccc ctt act ccg gaa 339 Arg Met Met Ala Asn His Tyr Lys Gln His Cys Pro Leu Thr Pro Glu 95 100 105 110 acg ccc tgt gaa acc cag act atc acc ttc aaa aat ttc aaa gag aat 387 Thr Pro Cys Glu Thr Gln Thr Ile Thr Phe Lys Asn Phe Lys Glu Asn 115 120 125 ctg aag gat ttt ctg ttt aac aac ccc ttt gac tgc tgg gga cca gac 435 Leu Lys Asp Phe Leu Phe Asn Asn Pro Phe Asp Cys Trp Gly Pro Asp 130 135 140 cag aag taa 444 Gln Lys 120 144 PRT Felis catus 120 Met Trp Leu Gln Asn Leu Leu Phe Leu Gly Thr Val Val Cys Ser Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Val Thr Arg Pro Trp Gln His 20 25 30 Val Asp Ala Ile Lys Glu Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser Ser Glu 35 40 45 Ile Thr Ala Val Met Asn Glu Ala Val Glu Val Val Ser Glu Met Phe 50 55 60 Asp Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Cys Leu Gln Thr His Leu Lys Leu Tyr Glu 65 70 75 80 Gln Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Lys Glu Pro Leu Arg Met 85 90 95 Met Ala Asn His Tyr Lys Gln His Cys Pro Leu Thr Pro Glu Thr Pro 100 105 110 Cys Glu Thr Gln Thr Ile Thr Phe Lys Asn Phe Lys Glu Asn Leu Lys 115 120 125 Asp Phe Leu Phe Asn Asn Pro Phe Asp Cys Trp Gly Pro Asp Gln Lys 130 135 140 121 444 DNA Felis catus 121 ttacttctgg tctggtcccc agcagtcaaa ggggttgtta aacagaaaat ccttcagatt 60 ctctttgaaa tttttgaagg tgatagtctg ggtttcacag ggcgtttccg gagtaagggg 120 gcagtgctgc ttgtaatggt tggccatcat tctcagaggc tccttgaggc tgatgaggct 180 gccccgtagg ccctgctcgt acagctttag gtgagtctgc aggcatttcg gctcctcagg 240 gtcaaacatt tcagagacga cttctactgc ttcattcatc acagcagtta tttcactact 300 gttgttcaga aggctcaggg cctccttgat ggcatccacg tgttgccagg gccgagtgac 360 agagctgggt gaactggtgg gtgcagagat gctgcagacc acagtgccca ggaaaagcag 420 gttctgcagc cacatggtgg atcc 444 122 432 DNA Felis catus 122 atgtggctgc agaacctgct tttcctgggc actgtggtct gcagcatctc tgcacccacc 60 agttcaccca gctctgtcac tcggccctgg caacacgtgg atgccatcaa ggaggccctg 120 agccttctga acaacagtag tgaaataact gctgtgatga atgaagcagt agaagtcgtc 180 tctgaaatgt ttgaccctga ggagccgaaa tgcctgcaga ctcacctaaa gctgtacgag 240 cagggcctac ggggcagcct catcagcctc aaggagcctc tgagaatgat ggccaaccat 300 tacaagcagc actgccccct tactccggaa acgccctgtg aaacccagac tatcaccttc 360 aaaaatttca aagagaatct gaaggatttt ctgtttaaca acccctttga ctgctgggga 420 ccagaccaga ag 432 123 432 DNA Felis catus 123 cttctggtct ggtccccagc agtcaaaggg gttgttaaac agaaaatcct tcagattctc 60 tttgaaattt ttgaaggtga tagtctgggt ttcacagggc gtttccggag taagggggca 120 gtgctgcttg taatggttgg ccatcattct cagaggctcc ttgaggctga tgaggctgcc 180 ccgtaggccc tgctcgtaca gctttaggtg agtctgcagg catttcggct cctcagggtc 240 aaacatttca gagacgactt ctactgcttc attcatcaca gcagttattt cactactgtt 300 gttcagaagg ctcagggcct ccttgatggc atccacgtgt tgccagggcc gagtgacaga 360 gctgggtgaa ctggtgggtg cagagatgct gcagaccaca gtgcccagga aaagcaggtt 420 ctgcagccac at 432 124 381 DNA Felis catus CDS (1)..(381) 124 gca ccc acc agt tca ccc agc tct gtc act cgg ccc tgg caa cac gtg 48 Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Val Thr Arg Pro Trp Gln His Val 1 5 10 15 gat gcc atc aag gag gcc ctg agc ctt ctg aac aac agt agt gaa ata 96 Asp Ala Ile Lys Glu Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser Ser Glu Ile 20 25 30 act gct gtg atg aat gaa gca gta gaa gtc gtc tct gaa atg ttt gac 144 Thr Ala Val Met Asn Glu Ala Val Glu Val Val Ser Glu Met Phe Asp 35 40 45 cct gag gag ccg aaa tgc ctg cag act cac cta aag ctg tac gag cag 192 Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Cys Leu Gln Thr His Leu Lys Leu Tyr Glu Gln 50 55 60 ggc cta cgg ggc agc ctc atc agc ctc aag gag cct ctg aga atg atg 240 Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Lys Glu Pro Leu Arg Met Met 65 70 75 80 gcc aac cat tac aag cag cac tgc ccc ctt act ccg gaa acg ccc tgt 288 Ala Asn His Tyr Lys Gln His Cys Pro Leu Thr Pro Glu Thr Pro Cys 85 90 95 gaa acc cag act atc acc ttc aaa aat ttc aaa gag aat ctg aag gat 336 Glu Thr Gln Thr Ile Thr Phe Lys Asn Phe Lys Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp 100 105 110 ttt ctg ttt aac aac ccc ttt gac tgc tgg gga cca gac cag aag 381 Phe Leu Phe Asn Asn Pro Phe Asp Cys Trp Gly Pro Asp Gln Lys 115 120 125 125 127 PRT Felis catus 125 Ala Pro Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Ser Val Thr Arg Pro Trp Gln His Val 1 5 10 15 Asp Ala Ile Lys Glu Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Asn Asn Ser Ser Glu Ile 20 25 30 Thr Ala Val Met Asn Glu Ala Val Glu Val Val Ser Glu Met Phe Asp 35 40 45 Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Cys Leu Gln Thr His Leu Lys Leu Tyr Glu Gln 50 55 60 Gly Leu Arg Gly Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu Lys Glu Pro Leu Arg Met Met 65 70 75 80 Ala Asn His Tyr Lys Gln His Cys Pro Leu Thr Pro Glu Thr Pro Cys 85 90 95 Glu Thr Gln Thr Ile Thr Phe Lys Asn Phe Lys Glu Asn Leu Lys Asp 100 105 110 Phe Leu Phe Asn Asn Pro Phe Asp Cys Trp Gly Pro Asp Gln Lys 115 120 125 126 381 DNA Felis catus 126 cttctggtct ggtccccagc agtcaaaggg gttgttaaac agaaaatcct tcagattctc 60 tttgaaattt ttgaaggtga tagtctgggt ttcacagggc gtttccggag taagggggca 120 gtgctgcttg taatggttgg ccatcattct cagaggctcc ttgaggctga tgaggctgcc 180 ccgtaggccc tgctcgtaca gctttaggtg agtctgcagg catttcggct cctcagggtc 240 aaacatttca gagacgactt ctactgcttc attcatcaca gcagttattt cactactgtt 300 gttcagaagg ctcagggcct ccttgatggc atccacgtgt tgccagggcc gagtgacaga 360 gctgggtgaa ctggtgggtg c 381 127 28 DNA Artificial Sequence 127 cctcgagatt cagctttcaa tgcctgta 28 128 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 128 tgcccrstcg gcttcttctc c 21 129 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 129 cgactctctt trccrtcctc ctg 23 130 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 130 cctcaaattg cggcacatgt c 21 131 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 131 ctgttcagag tttgagtaag cc 22 132 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 132 gaagatacca tttcaacttt aacacagc 28 133 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 133 tgctgtattg tgaagactcc cagc 24 134 16 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 134 atgcactttc tttgcc 16 135 42 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 135 ctggaggaaa akacttcrat gattctgata tctgaaatat at 42 136 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 136 ctgacycttk sttggscctc attctca 27 137 36 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 137 gggctcgaga aaagatttgc tgtagaaaat cccatg 36 138 32 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 138 cccgcggccg ctcaactttc cggtgtccac tc 32 139 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 139 gtcmtggctc tyrcttgcct tgg 23 140 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 140 aaastgggcy acytcgattt tgg 23 141 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 141 gtgatgttgm ycagctcctc 20 142 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 142 aattaaccct cactaaaggg 20 143 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 143 atggcgctct ggttgactgt 20 144 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 144 ggcttttgag agcacagtgc 20 145 29 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 145 ccccatatga gccctgtgac tccctcccc 29 146 30 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 146 ggggaattct catctgaaat ttccatggcg 30 147 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 147 atggcgctgc cctcttcctt cttg 24 148 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 148 tcatttctcg ctccttaatc ttttctgc 28 149 37 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 149 cagggatcca ccatgtggct gcagaacctg cttttcc 37 150 50 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 150 ttacttctgg tctggtcccc agcagtcaaa ggggttgtta aacagaaaat 50 151 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 151 cacagyccca tctcctcc 18 152 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 152 gtaatacgac tcactatagg gc 22 153 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 153 acggaattcg agatgatagt gctggc 26 154 28 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 154 gtgtctagat ttggtagaaa aggatgat 28 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and SEQ ID NO: 118; and (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and SEQ ID NO:
 126. 2. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (a) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a canine IL-4 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (b) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a canine Flt-3 ligand protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (c) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a feline Flt-3 ligand protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (d) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a canine CD40 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (e) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a feline CD40 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (f) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a canine CD154 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (g) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a feline CD154 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (h) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a canine IL-5 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (i) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a canine IL-13 protein; wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (j) consists of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a feline interferon alpha protein; and wherein a said nucleic acid molecule as set forth in (k) consists of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a feline GM-CSF.
 3. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (a) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against an IL-4 protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, and SEQ ID NO: 20, or a protein that has IL-4 activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (b) and (c) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against a Flt-3 ligand protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, and SEQ ID NO: 49, or a protein that has Flt-3 ligand activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (d) and (e) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against a CD40 protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, and SEQ ID NO: 61, or a protein that has CD40 activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (f) and (g) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against a CD154 protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, and SEQ ID NO: 78, or a protein that has CD154 activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (h) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against an IL-5 protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86, or a protein that has IL-5 activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (i) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against an IL-13 protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105, or a protein that has IL-13 activity; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (j) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against an interferon alpha protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114 and SEQ ID NO: 117; and wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (k) encodes a protein that elicits an immune response against a GM-CSF protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO:
 125. 4. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂,nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, nFeCD40₃₃₆, nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, nFeCD154₆₃₃, nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, nCaIL-5₃₄₅, nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, nCaIL-13₃₃₀, nFeIFNα_(567a), nFeIFNα_(567b), nFeIFNα_(498a), nFeIFNα4_(98b), nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, nFeGMCSF₄₃₂, and nFeGMCSF₃₈₁.
 5. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 78, SEQ ID NO: 81, SEQ ID NO: 86, SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, SEQ ID NO: 105, and (ii) SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, SEQ ID NO: 117, SEQ ID NO: 120, and SEQ ID NO: 125; and (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having any of said amino acid sequences of group (a) (i).
 6. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of (i) SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, SEQ ID NO: 79, SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, SEQ ID NO: 87, SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, SEQ ID NO: 106, and (ii) SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, SEQ ID NO: 118, SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124; and SEQ ID NO: 126; and (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule comprising any of said nucleic acid sequences of (a) (i).
 7. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is an oligonucleotide.
 8. A recombinant molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim 1 operatively linked to a transcription control sequence.
 9. A recombinant virus comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim
 1. 10. A recombinant cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim
 1. 11. An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 92 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, and SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69, and SEQ ID NO: 71; (g) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 91 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 90 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 65 percent identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and SEQ ID NO: 118; and (k) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and SEQ ID NO:
 126. 12. An isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34, and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 25 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 30 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60 percent identical to an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70, and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 35 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78, and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 50 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 20 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; (i) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105 and (ii) a protein comprising a fragment of at least 15 amino acids of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105; (j) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an interferon alpha protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117; (k) a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence encoding a GMCSF protein having an amino acid sequence that is selected from the group consisting of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 120, and SEQ ID NO: 125; and (l) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a complement of any of said nucleic acid molecules as set forth in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), or (k), wherein said IL-4 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-4 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20 or is a protein with interleukin-4 activity, said Flt-3 ligand protein elicits an immune response against a Flt-3 ligand protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 44, and SEQ ID NO: 49 or is a protein with Flt-3 ligand activity, said CD40 protein elicits an immune response against a CD40 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, and SEQ ID NO: 61 or is a protein with CD40 activity, said CD154 protein elicits an immune response against a CD154 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 70, SEQ ID NO: 73, and SEQ ID NO: 78 or is a protein with CD154 activity, said IL-5 protein elicits an immune response against a IL-5 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86 or is a protein with IL-5 activity, said IL-13 protein elicits an immune response against an IL-13 protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105 or is a protein with IL-13 activity, said interferon alpha protein elicits an immune response against an interferon alpha protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117 or is a protein with interferon alpha activity, and said GMCSF protein elicits an immune response against a GMCSF protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO: 125 or is a protein with GM-CSF activity.
 13. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 12, wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (a) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes an IL-4 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (b) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a Flt-3 ligand protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (c) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a Flt-3 ligand protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (d) comprises a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a CD40 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (e) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a CD40 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (f) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a CD154 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (g) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a CD154 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (h) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes an IL5 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (i) comprises a nucleic acid molecule that encodes an IL-13 protein; wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (j) consists of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes an IFNα protein; and wherein said nucleic acid molecule of (k) consists of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a GMCSF protein.
 14. The nucleic acid molecule of claim 12, wherein said nucleic acid molecule is selected from the group consisting of: (a) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; and (i) (i) a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105; and (ii) a nucleic acid molecule comprising an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO:
 105. 15. A recombinant molecule comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim 12 operatively linked to a transcription control sequence.
 16. A recombinant virus comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim
 12. 17. A recombinant cell comprising a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in claim
 12. 18. An isolated protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 19; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-4 protein or has IL-4 activity; (b) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and SEQ ID NO: 36; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (c) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and SEQ ID NO: 48; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (d) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 90 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 90 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and SEQ ID NO: 57; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 30 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, and SEQ ID NO: 58, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (e) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region comprising SEQ ID NO: 61, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (f) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 105 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 105 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and SEQ ID NO: 69; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 35 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (g) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 150 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 150 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and SEQ ID NO: 77; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 50 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (h) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and SEQ ID NO: 85; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-5 protein or has IL-5 activity; (i) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and SEQ ID NO: 104; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 15 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-13 protein or has IL-13 activity; (j) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, and SEQ ID NO: 116, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline interferon alpha protein or has interferon alpha activity; (k) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, and SEQ ID NO: 124, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline GM-CSF or has GM-CSF activity.
 19. The protein of claim 18, wherein said protein of (a) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; wherein said protein of (b) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; wherein said protein of (c) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; wherein said protein of (d) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; wherein said protein of (e) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; and a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the protein SEQ ID NO: 61; wherein said protein of (f) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; wherein said protein of (g) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; wherein said protein of (h) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; wherein said protein of (i) is selected from the group consisting of: (i) SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105; and (ii) a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105; wherein said protein of (j) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117; and wherein said protein of (k) is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO:
 125. 20. An isolated antibody that selectively binds to a protein as set forth in claim
 18. 21. An isolated protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20; (b) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34; (c) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 75 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49; (d) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 58; (e) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 60 percent identical to an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (f) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 80 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70; (g) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78; (h) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 85 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86; (i) a protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70 percent identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105; (j) a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 1 14, and SEQ ID NO: 117; and (k) a protein having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120, and SEQ ID NO:
 125. 22. An isolated antibody that selectively binds to a protein as set forth in claim
 21. 23. A therapeutic composition that, when administered to an animal, regulates an immune response in said animal, said therapeutic composition comprising a therapeutic compound selected from the group consisting of: a. an isolated protein comprising an immunoregulatory protein, wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of (a) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 19; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-4 protein or has IL-4 activity; (b) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and SEQ ID NO: 36; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (c) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and SEQ ID NO: 48; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (d) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 90 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 90 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and SEQ ID NO: 57; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 30 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (e) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 61, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (f) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 105 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 105 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and SEQ ID NO: 69; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 35 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (g) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 150 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 150 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and SEQ ID NO: 77; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 50 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (h) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and SEQ ID NO: 85; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-5 protein or has IL-5 activity; (i) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and SEQ ID NO: 104; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 15 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-13 protein or has IL-13 activity; (j) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, and SEQ ID NO: 116, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline interferon alpha protein or has interferon alpha activity; and (k) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, and SEQ ID NO: 124, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline GM-CSF or has GM-CSF activity; b. a mimetope of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; c. a multimeric form of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; d. an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and SEQ ID NO: 118; and (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and SEQ ID NO: 126; e. an antibody that selectively binds to any of said immunoregulatory proteins; and f. an inhibitor of a immunoregulatory protein activity identified by its ability to inhibit the activity of any of said immunoregulatory proteins.
 24. The composition of claim 23, wherein said composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an excipient, an adjuvant and a carrier.
 25. The composition of claim 23, wherein said therapeutic compound is selected from the group consisting of a naked nucleic acid vaccine and a recombinant cell vaccine.
 26. A method to regulate an immune response in an animal comprising administering to the animal a therapeutic composition comprising a therapeutic compound selected from the group consisting of: (a) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 19; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 20, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-4 protein or has IL-4 activity; (b) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and SEQ ID NO: 36; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 31, and SEQ ID NO: 34, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (c) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and SEQ ID NO: 48; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 44 and SEQ ID NO: 49, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline Flt-3 ligand protein or has Flt-3 activity; (d) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 90 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 90 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and SEQ ID NO: 57; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 30 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 30 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 58, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (e) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 61, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD40 protein or has CD40 activity; (f) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 105 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 105 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and SEQ ID NO: 69; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 35 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 35 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 65 and SEQ ID NO: 70, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (g) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 150 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 150 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and SEQ ID NO: 77; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 50 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 50 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 73 and SEQ ID NO: 78, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline CD154 protein or has CD154 activity; (h) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 60 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 60 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and SEQ ID NO: 85; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 20 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 20 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 20 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 81 and SEQ ID NO: 86, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-5 protein or has IL-5 activity; (i) (i) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and SEQ ID NO: 104; and (ii) an isolated protein of at least about 15 amino acids in length, wherein said protein has an at least 15 contiguous amino acid region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous amino acid region selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 92, SEQ ID NO: 97, SEQ ID NO: 100, and SEQ ID NO: 105, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a canine IL-13 protein or has IL-13 activity; (j) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, and SEQ ID NO: 116, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 108, SEQ ID NO: 111, SEQ ID NO: 114, and SEQ ID NO: 117, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline interferon alpha protein or has interferon alpha activity; and (k) (i) an isolated protein encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, and SEQ ID NO: 124, and (ii) an isolated protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 120 and SEQ ID NO: 125, wherein said isolated protein elicits an immune response against a feline GM-CSF or has GM-CSF activity; a mimetope of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; c. a multimeric form of any of said immunoregulatory proteins; d. an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 21; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 37; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, and SEQ ID NO: 50; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, and SEQ ID NO: 59; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 60 and SEQ ID NO: 62; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 69 and SEQ ID NO: 71; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 74, SEQ ID NO: 75, SEQ ID NO: 76, SEQ ID NO: 77, and SEQ ID NO: 79; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 82, SEQ ID NO: 83, SEQ ID NO: 84, SEQ ID NO: 85, and SEQ ID NO: 87; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 93, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 95, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 98, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 101, SEQ ID NO: 102, SEQ ID NO: 103, SEQ ID NO: 104, and SEQ ID NO: 106; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 109, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 112, SEQ ID NO: 113, SEQ ID NO: 115, SEQ ID NO: 116, and SEQ ID NO: 118; and (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 121, SEQ ID NO: 122, SEQ ID NO: 123, SEQ ID NO: 124, and SEQ ID NO: 126; e. an antibody that selectively binds to any of said immunoregulatory proteins; and f. an inhibitor of a immunoregulatory protein activity identified by its ability to inhibit the activity of any of said immunoregulatory proteins.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of canids and felids.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein said composition further comprises a component selected from the group consisting of an excipient, an adjuvant and a carrier.
 29. The method of claim 26, wherein said protective compound is selected from the group consisting of a naked nucleic acid vaccine and a recombinant cell vaccine.
 30. A method to produce an immunoregulatory protein, said method comprising culturing a cell capable of expressing said protein, said protein being encoded by a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of (a) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 19, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 50 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 50 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, and SEQ ID NO: 19; (b) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and SEQ ID NO: 36 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a contiguous nucleotide region of a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 33, and SEQ ID NO: 36; (c) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and SEQ ID NO: 48, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a contiguous nucleotide region of a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 46, and SEQ ID NO: 48; (d) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and SEQ ID NO: 57, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 40 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 40 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 55, and SEQ ID NO: 57; (e) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 30 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 30 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; (f) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and SEQ ID NO: 69 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 67, and SEQ ID NO: 69; (g) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and SEQ ID NO: 77 or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 35 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 35 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 75, and SEQ ID NO: 77; (h) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and SEQ ID NO: 85, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 45 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 45 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 80, SEQ ID NO: 83, and SEQ ID NO: 85; (i) an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and SEQ ID NO: 104, or a homolog thereof, wherein said homolog has an at least 15 contiguous nucleotide region identical in sequence to a 15 contiguous nucleotide region of a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 88, SEQ ID NO: 89, SEQ ID NO: 90, SEQ ID NO: 91, SEQ ID NO: 94, SEQ ID NO: 96, SEQ ID NO: 99, SEQ ID NO: 102, and SEQ ID NO: 104; (j) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 107, SEQ ID NO: 110, SEQ ID NO: 113, and SEQ ID NO: 116; and (k) an isolated nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 119, SEQ ID NO: 122, and SEQ ID NO:
 124. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said cell expresses a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of nCaIL-4₅₄₉, nCaIL-4₃₉₆, nCaIL-4₃₂₄, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₃, nCaFlt3L₈₈₂, nCaFlt3L₈₀₄, nCaFlt3L₈₂₈, nCaFlt3L₉₈₅, nCaFlt3L₁₀₁₉, nCaFlt3L₉₃, nCaFlt3L₇₅₀, nFeFlt3L₃₉₅, nFeFlt3L₇₉₃, nFeFlt3L₉₄₂, nFeFlt3L₈₇₃, nFeFlt3L₇₉₅, nCaCD40₃₂₁, nCaCD40₁₄₂₅, nCaCD40₈₂₂, nCaCD40₇₆₅, nFeCD40₃₃₆, nCaCD154₃₉₀, nCaCD1541₈₇₈, nCaCD154₇₈₀, nCaCD154₆₃₃, nFeCD154₈₈₅, nFeCD154₇₈₀, nFeCD154₆₃₃, nCaIL-5₆₁₀, nCaIL-5₄₀₂, nCaIL-5₃₄₅, nCaIL-13₁₆₆, nCaIL-13₂₇₂, nCaIL-13₂₇₈, nCaIL-13₁₃₀₂, nCaIL-13₃₉₃, nCaIL-13₃₃₃, nCaIL-13₁₂₆₉, nCaIL-13₃₉₀, nCaIL-13₃₃₀, nFeIFN's₆₇a, nFeIFNα_(567b), nFeIFNα_(498a), nFeIFNα4_(98b), nFeGMCSF₄₄₄, nFeGMCSF₄₃₂, and nFeGMCSF₃₈₁.
 32. A method to identify a compound capable of regulating an immune response in an animal, said method comprising: (a) contacting an isolated canine IL-4 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has T cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (b) contacting an isolated canine Flt-3 ligand protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has dendritic precursor cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (c) contacting an isolated feline Flt-3 ligand protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has dendritic precursor cell proliferation stimulating activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (d) contacting an isolated canine CD40 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has CD40 ligand binding activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (e) contacting an isolated feline CD40 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has CD40 ligand binding activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (f) contacting an isolated canine CD154 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has B cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (g) contacting an isolated feline CD154 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has B cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (h) contacting an isolated canine IL-5 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (i) contacting an isolated canine L-13 protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; (j) contacting an isolated feline IFNα protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has inhibition of proliferation of GM-CSF stimulated TF-1 cell activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity; or (k) contacting an isolated feline GMCSF protein with a putative inhibitory compound under conditions in which, in the absence of said compound, said protein has TF-1 cell proliferation activity; and determining if said putative inhibitory compound inhibits said activity. 